NU Online News Service, March 31, 12:58 p.m. EDT
Insurance brokerage Willis Group Holdings, plc., said it raised more than $400,000 for Haitian earthquake relief efforts using a special internal company Web site to gather donations.
Willis mentioned that Haiti is a place where the firm does little or no business, and among its 17,000 employees worldwide, only one was known to come from Haiti.
However, after Joe Plumeri, the firm's chief executive officer and chairman, sent an urgent e-mail appeal, 2,075 employees participated in the Willis Cause for Haiti Campaign that concluded on March 1.
After a five-week run, a total of $207,629 was collected–the equivalent of a $12 donation from each employee in the firm. Adding in the company's match, the total raised came to roughly $407,000.
Employees made their donations at all hours via a special Web site the company set up.
Willis said the campaign was started with a Jan. 14 phone call by Mr. Plumeri, as he was watching news coverage of the disaster in London.
He telephoned the company's director of human resources, Susan Gunn, and pledged corporate assistance. But Mr. Plumeri also wanted employees eager to help to have a means to act on their instincts.
Over the weekend, the special Web site was set up, and on the afternoon of Jan. 19, Mr. Plumeri e-mailed everyone at Willis to say the site was live.
"The response started on the West Coast, where it was late morning, and made its way west around the world. As people got to work the next day, they read, clicked and gave," said Mr. Plumeri.
"Our global presence is predominantly in the larger cities in the developed countries, but it was enormously gratifying to see such a fast and generous outpouring to a place and a people in such dire need," he added.
"It was incredible to watch when donations were made and where they came from," said Susan Gunn. "We received $29,000 the first day, $45,000 the second day and $14,000 the third day. Then we e-mailed all of our associates again reporting the wide participation and providing our link, and another $32,000 came in right after."
Distribution of the roughly $407,000 raised is ongoing, the firm said. When Willis' special Web site was set up, 50 certified charities were identified to have the ability to help bring immediate relief. The largest recipient of contributions was the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, followed by the American Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam.
Charities were not the only recipients of Willis funds, the firm said. Associates privately contributed to their colleague Wesly Guiteau, a Haitian native, from Willis Bermuda, who made his way to Haiti to search for missing family members, all of whom were eventually found safe and well.
Mr. Guiteau continues to work on relief efforts in Haiti, helping the local mayor of Lasahobas, Mr. Guiteau's home town, raise funds and provide aid for the people of that area. He also is working to provide temporary housing (durable tents) for 200 families in Port Au Prince, Haiti.
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