Diageo Provides Humanitarian Aid to Storm Ravaged States

NORWALK, Conn., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Diageo Spirit of the Americas Humanitarian Aid program has provided special relief to flooding victims in Mississippi and tornado victims in Alabama and Missouri. In the last 60 days, Diageo provided 225,000 bottles of water - equivalent to nearly 30,000 gallons - to provide much needed fresh drinking water to the victims and first responders in the aftermath of these natural disasters.

In the wake of the tornado that struck Tuscaloosa, Ala., on April 27, 2011, Diageo donated and delivered two truckloads of bottled potable water to the Tuscaloosa Police Department (TPD) and the Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue Service (TFRS).  The TPD and TFRS distributed the water to more than 500 victims being housed in temporary shelters, as well as to search and rescue workers and volunteers.

On May 10, 2011, the Mississippi River crested at near-record highs, displacing thousands of residents.  Diageo worked with the American Red Cross to provide nearly 75,000 bottles of drinking water in Clinton, Miss.

Most recently, following the devastating tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., causing the highest death toll resulting from a tornado in more than 60 years, Diageo delivered another 75,000 bottles of water to storm victims.  The water was provided to and distributed by the Missouri Emergency Management Agency.

Guy L. Smith, Executive Vice President of Diageo North America said, "Diageo was in constant contact with state and city officials to determine which areas had the most critical need for potable water. In the wake of such tragic natural disasters, Diageo employees are proud to do a small part to make a difference as communities begin the process of rebuilding and recovering."

About Diageo's Spirit of the Americas Humanitarian Aid Program

Established in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, the Spirit of the Americas program provides immediate relief and disaster aid around the world. In the hours and days after 9/11, Diageo and its employees provided numerous relief activities and assistance at Ground Zero and went on to provide funding for families who lost loved ones and donated computers for New York's Emergency management. Three months later, in December 2001, Diageo brought the first corporate humanitarian airlift to war-torn Afghanistan by delivering more than 100,000 pounds of food and emergency supplies to 800 orphans in Kabul, embarking on a similar mission in 2003, bringing food, medicine and school supplies to Baghdad.

Since then, Diageo has provided humanitarian aid in the form of generators, medical supplies, food, water and other basic needs to disaster victims all around the world, including Alabama, California, Connecticut, the Dominican Republic, Florida, Grenada, Haiti, Indonesia, Iowa, Jamaica, Japan, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Orleans, the Sudan and Texas.

Diageo's Spirit of America Humanitarian Aid Missions is facilitated by the Bridge Foundation, a non-profit humanitarian aid and development organization that provides humanitarian relief worldwide.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

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SOURCE Diageo