CaribPR Wire

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, has generously donated $50,000 to help relieve the suffering of thousands of survivors of the devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) announced.

 ”Bacardi has consistently shown its compassion during natural disasters, and we applaud its support of PADF’s emergency relief work in Haiti,” says John Sanbrailo, PADF’s Executive Director. “One hundred percent of Bacardi’s donation will go to the earthquake relief.”

 Bacardi’s donation will be used for emergency shelter, medicine, water, food and hygiene kits, with an emphasis on Port-au-Prince and the Southeast province’s city of Jacmel.

 ”We need to get help to the Haitian people as quickly as possible. The Bacardi family, Company and employees are deeply saddened by the devastation and horrific loss caused by the earthquake in Haiti. We hope this donation will help alleviate some of the suffering they are experiencing,” said Facundo L. Bacardi, chairman of Bacardi Limited.

 In addition to the donation to PADF, various country companies within the Bacardi family of companies have organized Haiti relief collection events at their facilities.

 PADF, along with the Organization of American States (OAS) and Hollywood Unites for Haiti (HUFH), are collaborating in the promotion of the crisis and distribution of supplies. PADF has worked in Haiti for nearly 30 years.

 In addition to Haiti’s earthquake, Bacardi Limited has a long history providing much-needed assistance during catastrophic natural disasters. It has helped in Southeast Asia (tsunami), China (earthquake), and in the United States (Hurricane Katrina). In 2008, it partnered with PADF in supplying emergency relief in Cuba following Hurricanes and tropical storms of Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike.

 Bacardi Limited encourages donations from companies and individuals to aid the Haitian people through PADF at www.PanAmericanRelief.org, its toll free number (877) 572-4484 or by texting HEAL to 50555.

 About Bacardi Limited

 Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets a variety of internationally recognized spirits. The Bacardi brand portfolio consists of more than 200 brands and labels, including: BACARDI®  rum, the world’s favorite and best-selling premium rum, as well as the world’s most awarded rum; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world-leader in super-premium vodka; DEWAR’S® Scotch whisky, the number-one selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued premium gin in the world; CAZADORES® blue agave tequila, the top-selling premium tequila worldwide; MARTINI® vermouth, the world-leader in vermouth; and other leading brands. It was founded in Santiago de Cuba, February 4, 1862. For more information, visit www.BacardiLimited.com.

 About HUFH

 Hollywood Unites For Haiti is a non-profit charitable aid organization based in Los Angeles that puts 100 percent of its donations directly into the cause of helping Haitian citizens and raising global awareness of ways in which people can help.  For more information, please visit www.hufh.org and www.HaitianHero.com.

 About the OAS

 The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, which was held in Washington, D.C., from October 1889 to April 1890. Today, it is comprised of 34 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. For additional information, please visit www.oas.org.

 About PADF

 PADF is a non-profit organization established in 1962 to promote, facilitate, and implement social and economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean. In the past year, it had more than 5.6 million beneficiaries in 18 countries. PADF has worked in Haiti for almost 30 years.

 PADF is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Haiti. With nearly three decades of work on the ground, PADF now manages a large portfolio of activities ranging from community-driven development to protecting human rights.

Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and has field offices in Haiti, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. For more information, please visit www.padf.org.