Press Releases

Central America & Mexico Hurricane Relief Fund

President Bush Announces Creation of Hurricane Relief Fund for Central America & Mexico

Guatemala, January 18, 2006

The President of the United States, George W. Bush, announced in Washington, D.C., the launching of a relief fund for hurricane victims in Central America and Mexico, in a national effort to collect corporative and private donations and help people whose lives and communities were devastated during 2005. By launching this relief fund, the President’s initiative – unveiled during the Summit of the Americas last November -- becomes a reality, and complements the U.S. Government’s assistance during the emergency and the reconstruction stages to benefit thousands of victims.

President Bush stated that the relief fund “is available for individuals to visit the program website and learn more about the initiative and donate funds.” The English website is www.HurricaneAction.org. The Spanish website is www.AccionHuracan.org. The content in both websites includes information on programs, affected regions and partners, pictures, a basic question and answers section and the toll free number 1-800-638-8079 to call in the United States to obtain information. The Central American and Mexican communities, as well as individuals willing to help the victims, can contribute principally with cash donations through Internet, through their credit card. Another way to help is to support the non-government organizations working in the region.

The White House publicly announced on January 13 said it hoped to bring relief to Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico, where floods and landslides have cost the lives of hundred of people, left more than 100,000 thousand homeless and thousands missing. The economic impact in the region, including the destruction of crop fields and the loss of their subsistence means, is estimated to be more than $1 billion dollars. In Guatemala, the country most severely hit by the hurricanes and the rainy season, approximately 700 people died.

Through this relief fund, monies raised will directly support three specific recovery areas in the impacted regions: education for displaced children, infrastructure and reconstruction, and micro-finance projects to help stimulate local economies. Fund administrative and processing costs are covered by a grant from the private sector partners.

The respected non-government organization Global Impact was chosen as leader and non-profit partner in this initiative to manage and account for donations. It will ensure that all funding goes to qualified, effective aid organizations that meet high standards for accountability, transparency, and compliance with all legal requirements. It will also serve with the three sponsoring executives and USAID on the advisory committee that guides the distribution of the funding. The Global Impact member charity institutions are deeply involved in providing emergency services and reconstruction efforts in Mexico and Central America.

This initiative is spearheaded by three U.S. business leaders selected by President Bush. They visited the region during the last months of 2005 to see for themselves the impact of the tragedy and to establish priority needs. They are: Steven S. Reinemund, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo. Inc; Robert W. Lane, Chairman and CEO, Deere & Company; and Maria Elena Lagomasino, CEO, Asset Management Advisor, an affiliate of Sun Trust Banks, Inc.