Hunter Douglas Donates $550,000 to Haitian Relief

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Hunter Douglas, Inc., the leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window coverings in North America, announced that it has donated a total of $550,000 to two nonprofits – the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Habitat for Humanity International – to help relieve the suffering and aid the recovery of the Haitian people following the massive earthquake and its terrible aftermath.  Each of these worthy organizations was carefully selected and will receive $275,000 for the relief and recovery of the people of Haiti.  

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100316/NY70966 )

Hunter Douglas matched all contributions from its employees, independent fabricator partners, retail dealers and other friends.  In only four weeks, the company received close to $275,000 in contributions to its Haitian Relief Fund Drive.  

Hunter Douglas President and CEO Marv Hopkins presented the donations yesterday at the company's Upper Saddle River, N.J., headquarters to George Rupp, President and CEO of the IRC, and Mark Crozet, Senior Vice President of Resource Development for Habitat.  

"I'm so proud of my colleagues, partners and customers who participated in this drive to aid those in desperate need of help and support," said Hopkins. "The compassion and generosity of our employees and friends are most impressive and heartwarming."

"We're pleased to present these gifts to two highly effective and efficient organizations: the IRC, one of the few charities that has earned an A+ from the American Institute of Philanthropy, and Habitat, with whom Hunter Douglas has had a longstanding, 18-year relationship," Hopkins continued.  "Hunter Douglas donates its custom window coverings to all Habitat homes across the U.S. and in Canada and also participates in many Habitat workdays."  

Founded in 1933 and working in more than 40 countries, the New York-based IRC is a global leader in emergency relief, rehabilitation, protection of human rights and resettlement services.  In Haiti, led by a team of veteran first responders, the IRC is focusing on sanitation, health, shelter, child protection, family tracing and special services for women.  In order to help prevent the spread of disease, its sanitation teams have trained hygiene promotion teams, built dozens of latrines and bathing facilities and distributed water containers and hygiene kits.  Working with local partners, it is providing educational and healing spaces for children.  The IRC is also a leading organization in the effort to identify, trace and reunite separated families.  Finally, a "Cash for Work" program, employing out-of-work Haitians to clear rubble and repair structures, has been initiated to jumpstart their economic recovery.

"We are grateful to Hunter Douglas and its caring employees for their generosity," stated Rupp.  "Their contributions will directly benefit the people of Haiti as we work with them in their time of greatest need."

Habitat for Humanity has been in Haiti since 1984 and will be crucial to long-term rebuilding efforts there.  Its response to the devastation includes providing emergency shelter kits to help families make immediate repairs and construct emergency shelter; clearing debris from home sites and constructing transitional shelter; and building core housing that can be expanded over time.

"This generous gift will help us make tremendous progress toward our goal of helping 50,000 families in Haiti who are affected by the devastation," said Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer for Habitat for Humanity International.  "With the support of dedicated partners like Hunter Douglas, Habitat will be able to provide the widest range of shelter resources available so that we can have a positive impact on the greatest number of people possible."

Hunter Douglas, Inc., is headquartered in Upper Saddle River, N.J., and employs approximately 6,000 people in more than 40 North American facilities.

For more information, call 1-800-274-2985 or visit: www.hunterdouglas.com.

SOURCE Hunter Douglas, Inc.