A SPIRIT OF GIVING

Businesses donate millions for victims

By Globe Staff, 9/13/2001

orporate America is reaching into its pockets to help the victims of the devastation in New York and Washington.

Yesterday, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said General Electric Co. and Cisco Systems have contributed $10 million and $4 million, respectively, to the families of New York firefighters and police officers lost or presumed dead.

Among a growing list of other contributors, McDonald's Corp. is donating $1 million for relief efforts, while Ronald McDonald House Charities is giving another $1 million.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. is contributing $1 million to the American Red Cross in Greater New York for relief efforts.

On another front, the Knights of Columbus will announce the establishment of a $1 million ''Knights of Columbus Heroes Fund'' for families of full-time law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians who have lost their lives.

Locally, Stop & Shop starts a program tomorrow called the American Heroes Fund, where donations made at its 318 stores will go to firefighters, police officers, and families of the victims in New York and Washington. The company will match the donations, dollar for dollar, up to $1 million.

Fleet, Citizens, and Sovereign banks agreed yesterday to allow anyone to contribute at all of their branches to a victims fund administered by the Red Cross. The three will match contributions from their employees (and customers in the case of Citizens).

SAM ALLIS

This story ran on page A13 of the Boston Globe on 9/13/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.