BOSTON – GE and the GE Foundation have announced a total of $4.5 million in philanthropic commitments to provide immediate support to Ukraine and neighboring countries impacted by the violence there. GE Healthcare is donating $4 million in life-saving medical equipment, including handheld ultrasound devices, mobile X-ray units, ventilators and patient monitors. The GE Foundation is making a donation of $500,000 to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Airlink to provide immediate and long-term relief to neighboring countries, including Poland, Moldova, and Romania that are welcoming refugees from Ukraine. In addition to the GE Foundation’s donations, GE employees can support relief efforts through its Matching Gifts Program.
“The strength and courage of the Ukrainian people are an inspiration to the world, and we are glad to do our part to support them in this time of need,” said Linda Boff, President, GE Foundation, and Vice President, GE. “We are honored to support the IRC and Airlink as they work to provide relief to Ukrainian civilians who have been forced to flee their homes, and we are hopeful that the donation of medical equipment from GE Healthcare will help those most in need of care.”
“We are concerned about the conflict in Ukraine and many of our employees in Europe and across the globe have been involved in relief efforts already,” said Rob Walton, President and CEO of GE Healthcare for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “As a healthcare business, it’s our responsibility to help by responding to the needs of those who are being impacted by this crisis and support where we can. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, our colleagues in the regions, and their friends and families impacted by the conflict.”
Currently, the United Nations estimates more than 800,000 civilians have fled Ukraine. The GE Foundation’s donation to IRC will total $400,000 and provide immediate relief to refugees in need of emergency cash to meet basic needs, additional support for vulnerable displaced women and children, and the delivery of life-saving information (such as legal rights and accommodation) through IRC’s established digital tools for people who are in transit or starting life in a new country. Airlink is a rapid-response humanitarian relief organization that exists to remove the cost barriers of air transport to help communities in crisis. Airlink will receive $100,000 supporting its efforts to deliver aid resources to an estimated 100,000-250,000 displaced families in Poland, Moldova, and Romania.
“We are honored to receive this grant from our longtime partners at the GE Foundation, which will help us alleviate unnecessary human suffering and meet the most urgent needs of families fleeing the conflict,” said Ourania Dionysiou, Vice President of International Partnerships and Philanthropy, IRC. “It is critical that the international community come together quickly to prevent further loss of life, and we hope GE Foundation’s swift support will inspire others to action.
“This generous grant from the GE Foundation will help fund flight operations and logistics and will be leveraged with existing Airlink funds to support our immediate response in the region,” said Steven J. Smith, Airlink President and CEO. “In the coming months, these refugees will require medical and mental health care, shelter, sanitation and hygiene, food, and child safety, and we’re proud to deliver this aid to them with the support of our partners at GE.”
GE employees who make eligible donations to IRC, Airlink or other participating charities can register for a match with the GE Foundation’s Matching Gifts program, which supports employees’ personal philanthropy and charitable giving by providing a 1:1 match. The GE Foundation created the concept of a corporate matching gift program in 1954. Today, the program continues to serve as an important element of the Foundation’s portfolio, with gifts matched over the last two years totalling $23 million.
GE’s Disaster and Humanitarian Relief program responds to major global disasters and humanitarian crises, drawing on GE’s people, technology and other resources to reduce suffering and hasten recovery. Since 2020, GE Foundation’s philanthropic contribution in disaster relief totaled nearly $6.3 million, which was largely focused on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. GE remains committed to preparing for and responding to future natural disasters and humanitarian crises, diligently maximizing the impact of our financial, technological, and human resources.
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