Boeing

The Boeing Company today announced that contributions to assist the disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack have exceeded $8.4 million.

Boeing employees and retirees have donated close to $2.0 million in voluntary personal contributions to the effort through the company's Employees Community Fund (ECF), which is the largest employee-owned charitable organization in the world. Employees manage the funds locally at more than 60 Boeing sites and choose the community organizations that receive help.

Almost immediately following news of the disaster, employees established a special ECF account to assist with September 11 relief efforts. Contributions come from the more than 199,000 Boeing employees in 26 countries worldwide. "We are heartened by the outpouring of not only kindness but the 'call to action' from Boeing employees," said Toni Bailey, vice president of community and education relations. "There is no way to put in to words the lasting pain this horrific act will have, but it has brought out the human kindness that I hope will be extended to all for years to come."

Boeing's corporate and employee contributions are being divided between the Red Cross and the United Way September 11 Fund, and some employee donations are also going to the Salvation Army. Through the ECF, employees awarded grants to the relief organizations totaling another $1 million. The Boeing Company provided an additional $5.4 million in matching funds and corporate grants to aid relief efforts among the organizations.

In addition to company and employee cash donations, two of Boeing's business units, Connexion by Boeing and Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS), have teamed-up to provide satellite-based backup communications for on-going search and rescue operations. Connexion by Boeing donated two of its 11 leased satellite transponders, which are normally used for its broadband in-flight Internet and communications services.

One transponder was donated to support the nationally televised fundraising event "America: A Tribute to Heroes." An additional transponder has been donated to FEMA to aid in Ground Zero communications support in New York until normal telephone connections are available.

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