Multinationals support for quake-hit children
By Asad Cheema

ISLAMABAD—The Pepsi Co Foundation and Pfizer Inc. have been generous to aid the quake victims. The foundation's gift of $300,000 will enable Save the Children to provide immediate life saving relief and protection to support the survival and development of children and families in the district of Batagram NWFP.
With this important gift, Save the Children aims to increase access to health care and improve the quality of health care services in the district. "After speaking with the general manager of our business unit of PepsiCo International in Pakistan, it was evident that the priority was the children who were so greatly affected," says Jacqueline Millan, Director of Corporate Contributions. "Thousands of children have been left orphaned, injured and suffered from mental trauma by this devastating tragedy.
It was decided to contribute funds to an organization that not only had been on the ground in quake hit areas already but was also directly engaged in longer-term recovery and rehabilitation that would go beyond immediate relief. For this reason we decided to once again work with Save the Children," says Jacqueline.
In true form, Pfizer Inc. quickly sprung to action in response to the Oct 8 earthquake with a $250,000 gift to Save the Children. Pfizer's donation was specifically targeted to meet the immediate emergency relief efforts during the first 6 months following the disaster. These relief efforts include distributing items of critical importance such as shelter materials, tents, blankets, and food rations to affected families, as well as providing protection activities for children.
In addition, Save the Children has dispatched medical personnel to set up a field hospital in coordination with local and provincial health authorities, WHO, UNICEF, and others to treat the injured.