Major Disaster Relief Activities in 2010

American Red Cross Latin America Risk Reduction Activity (LARRA)

The Merck Company Foundation is providing a $1.5 million grant over three years (2009-2011) to support the American Red Cross Latin America Risk Reduction Activity (LARRA) project in seven countries in Central and South America—Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay and Peru. LARRA's goal is to help vulnerable communities and Red Cross national societies operating in disaster-prone areas enhance their capacity in disaster preparedness and first aid, and to help create opportunities to achieve a better standard of living.

American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP)

Merck is a long-standing member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). Most recently, The Merck Company Foundation pledged $2 million over four years (2010-2013) to support the ADGP and to help ensure the Red Cross can be on the scene of a disaster at a moment's notice. When disasters occur, the Red Cross is there to provide essential relief services to assist those in need. Our support of the Red Cross helps them immediately deliver assistance across affected areas, in partnership with local agencies.

Haiti

Following the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, Merck donated a total of $11.6 million in cash, product and employee contributions to support the massive relief efforts.

Funding supported the deployment of emergency response units, disaster specialists, blankets, clean water, therapeutic food, medical supplies and temporary shelter.

Merck worked with its partners to donate needed medicines through the Merck Medical Outreach Program to support the relief efforts, and also provided funding to support the transportation and logistics planning required for these product donations.

Merck also allowed eligible employees who were licensed health professionals or allied health service providers, as well as qualified translators (Creole/French), to take one to two paid weeks of release time to participate in disaster-recovery efforts with approved nonprofit organizations on the ground in Haiti.

Finally, The Foundation matched 100 percent of all personal contributions to qualified health disaster relief organizations made by U.S. and Puerto Rico employees and retirees.

Pakistan

In August 2010, Pakistan experienced its worst flooding in history, with more than 20 million people affected. Merck donated medicines valued at $1.7 million to partner organizations through the Merck Medical Outreach Program and the Merck Office of Corporate Philanthropy made a $75,000 cash contribution to a partner organization that helped provide clean water, sanitation, hygiene programs and nonfood items.