In response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and flooding in South Asia, Xylem has committed $1 million in expanded support for relief efforts. The hurricanes and the severe flooding in India, Nepal and Bangladesh are some of the most devastating weather events on record.
Xylem’s actions include monetary contributions from the company and its corporate citizenship initiative Xylem Watermark, employee plus matching gift donations, and an expansion of its ongoing employee volunteer initiatives in the affected areas.
“Crises like these call for us all to help friends, colleagues and communities recover from devastating impact and loss,” said Patrick Decker, President and CEO of Xylem. “As communities are confronted with more severe weather events than ever before, we stand firm in our commitment to support them prepare for and recover quickly from the aftermath. Our thoughts are with all of those impacted as they begin to rebuild their lives.”
Response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma
Xylem, a leading global water technology company, will make significant monetary contributions to both the American Red Cross and Mercy Corps. The contributions will support the organizations’ on-site relief efforts in the Greater Houston area and those communities hardest hit by Hurricane Irma in the southeast U.S. and Caribbean islands.
The funds will help provide short-term economic assistance to some of the most vulnerable communities affected by these storms. These contributions are in addition to Xylem’s 2-for-1 employee matching gift program to these organizations, which was launched on August 29. In addition, the company will support local organizations in the longer-term rebuilding activities in the affected communities.
Additionally, Xylem will send approximately 100 colleagues from other parts of the U.S. to spend a week of paid volunteer time in the affected areas working with local non-profit agencies on rebuilding projects. The timing of those trips will be determined by the scheduled needs of those projects. Local area colleagues will direct their Xylem-sponsored volunteer efforts to the rebuilding activities during Xylem’s annual Month of Service in October.
Response to extreme flooding in South Asia
Xylem will donate $100,000, and match employee donations 2-for-1, to Mercy Corps to support its work underway in South Asia to address the immediate relief needs of the millions who have been displaced or impacted by severe monsoon flooding in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. These funds will support Mercy Corps’ local partners’ efforts to implement water, sanitation and hygiene initiatives on the ground.
Xylem is also providing funds to the Planet Water Foundation for the construction of two water towers near a disaster relief center in Maharashtra, India, where thousands have sought refuge from the floods.