CaribPR Wire

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The devastating earthquake in Haiti has shattered millions of lives, but the relief efforts and outpouring of support by organizations and individuals worldwide offer hope. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been working diligently since the disaster to provide aid to the people of Haiti through its humanitarian aid program. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of relief supplies have arrived already, and more are being shipped.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the fastest growing Christian faiths in the world, with over 13 million members world-wide. As committed Christians with strong traditional values, the Church actively participates in humanitarian efforts, from small-scale local projects in hospitals, schools and communities, to large-scale emergency relief efforts such as the recent Haiti earthquake.

In the Caribbean islands, there are more than 150,000 members of the LDS Church, in 369 congregations. Over 15,000 of these members live in Haiti, half of these calling Port-au-Prince home.

“Our hearts ache for the people of Haiti and our prayers are with them as we witness the unimaginable suffering they are experiencing,” said Bishop H. David Burton, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who oversees the Church’s humanitarian program. “We are grateful for the many generous donations that enable the Church to provide extensive relief in Haiti, as well as other parts of the world.”

Relief Supplies Provided by the Church
Five air shipments of aid provided by the Church have arrived and are being used in Haiti. They include food, medical supplies, communications equipment, tents, tarps, water filtration bottles, blankets, newborn kits, wheelchairs, first aid kits, portable toilets and other items. Those five flights include a total of nearly 375,000 pounds of relief supplies. Partners United Airlines, Islamic Relief USA, Airline Ambassadors and UPS have worked with the Church to provide transport for these shipments.

Additionally, four truckloads of relief supplies have arrived in Haiti with supplies the Church procured in the Dominican Republic. On the ground in Haiti, the Church is working with partners Food for the Poor and CARE to distribute supplies.

Local Church leaders closest to the situation provide the direction for what supplies are most needed for people in their areas. Future shipments will continue to bring those relief supplies.

“Normal daily activity has come to a stop in Haiti. Helping to restore normalcy in the midst of devastation will be our greatest goal. Our focus will be on helping people become self-reliant again,” said Elder Francisco J. Viñas, the LDS Church area president who oversees the Church in Haiti.

Medical Relief
A team of five medical personnel coordinated by the Church arrived on Friday, 15 January, from the Dominican Republic to assist the injured. Another team of 16 medical professionals from the United States arrived on 18 January and provided emergency care for those needing medical attention. A revolving core team of doctors from the Church remains in Haiti providing general health care, follow-up care for injuries, as well as for sickness and communicable disease common after disasters.

Church Meetinghouses as Shelters
All of the Church’s meetinghouses in Haiti have been left largely undamaged. Local Church leaders report that nine chapels in Haiti have been used to shelter as many as 5,000 people in local communities where the chapels are located. Several truckloads of food and other relief supplies have been shipped to the chapels, and doctors sent by the Church have provided treatment to injured and sick individuals who are taking shelter there.

Generosity of Members and Friends of the Church
In the first few days after the earthquake the LDS Church received donations in the millions of US dollars from concerned members of the community, specifically for aid in Haiti. Church members in the Caribbean Area have been invited to dedicate their February monthly fast offering to the Haiti relief effort. When fasting, members traditionally donate the money they save by not eating two meals to the church for providing financial help to those in need; those who can donate more are encouraged to do so.

An official statement from the Church on January 22, 2010 also addressed the emotional trauma the Haitian people are experiencing in the wake of the devastating earthquake.

“Money is not the only need in Haiti,” the statement explains. “People are frightened, bewildered, and wholly uncertain about their future. In addition to what people can do in helping with food, water and shelter, there needs to be a calming influence over that troubled nation. We invite people everywhere to supplicate God for a spirit of calm and peace among the people.”

Donations for relief efforts can be made at http://give.lds.org/emergencyresponse.

PHILADELPHIA and EAST RIVERTON, N.J., Feb. 1  /PRNewswire/ — Sea Box, Inc., an ISO-certified shipping container manufacturing and modification company (www.seabox.com) is sending a container filled with relief supplies – including their ShelterPak for converting the container box into habitable housing – to Haiti. The aid was prompted by a company engineer, Werner Guerrier, a Haitian native with a large extended family in Carrefour, Port au Prince, Haiti who lost his sister and nephew in the earthquake. 

In an effort to support their co-worker and other survivors of the earthquake, Sea Box employees have donated food, water and clothing and the owners of Sea Box have donated a 20 foot shipping container (and shipping) – complete with a ShelterPAK module already installed. 

Sea Box created the “ShelterPAK” six years ago in response to demand for easily installed basic housing units for disaster areas.  Designed to fit into a standard 20 foot shipping container, when installed, it turns a basic shipping container into a livable shelter.  

The Sea Box container with ShelterPAK is destined for Carrefour, Mr. Guerrier’s hometown where the food, water and clothing will be distributed to JEBCA D’HAITI, an organization of the church M.E.B.S.H. de Cote-Plage, directed by Pastor Rev. Samson Dorilas.  Sadly, 39 members of this church lost their lives, and many more lost their houses. JEBCA D’HAITI will be in charge of the distribution of all the items donated and intend to use the shelter as a medical treatment center.

“Sea Box has the ability to deliver 5,000 ShelterPAKs per week to Haiti where these kits can be easily inserted into the empty shipping containers currently sitting at the Port in Haiti. In the next six months aid to Haiti will be sent in an estimated 100,000 of the standard 20-foot cargo containers. Once unloaded, these same containers could serve as life-saving shelters with the installation of a ShelterPAK,” said Jim Brennan, Jr., President of Sea Box, Inc. “We at Sea Box thought the best way we could help Haiti – and our colleague – is to provide both supplies and the product and services we are best at – the efficient and economical use of containers. Our ShelterPAK makes the container itself useful once the supplies are distributed.”

Cargo containers have been used in other countries for emergency shelters. ShelterPAKs meet earthquake zone specifications and exceed the structural codes.  They are sturdy, safe and economical (estimated $4,000 per ShelterPAK, installed) on a permanent site.  They allow families to be back on their own land quickly and these families can also reconstruct their houses around the container making it a permanent emergency shelter at the core of their homes.

About Sea Box, Inc. (www.seabox.com)
Headquartered in suburban Philadelphia (East Riverton NJ), with offices in Charleston, SC, Qingdao, China and Fyshwick, Australia, Sea Box was established in 1983 by current President Jim Brennan Jr. The company specializes in new design, modification and manufacture of ISO quality-certified containers for commercial and military applications such as personnel shelters, power generating stations, large computer data centers, interim housing units, mobile latrine-toilet-shower shelters, Coast Guard approved berthing vans and portable laboratories.

CANTON, Mass., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — In recognition of the continued need for aid in Haiti, the OneBeacon Charitable Trust has announced a donation of $48,000 allocated to five nonprofit organizations assisting in the ongoing humanitarian relief efforts– the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, Partners in Health and UNICEF.

The contribution consists of a $5,000 donation to each organization as well as a dollar-for-dollar match of the $23,000 donated by OneBeacon employees, its Hagerty Insurance partners and White Mountains Insurance Group staff. In total, the OneBeacon community will donate $71,000, with almost $30,000 going to the American Red Cross.

Carmen Duarte, a member of the OneBeacon Charitable Trust Committee said, “Addressing the devastating loss and continued suffering in Haiti is clearly a global collaboration. The OneBeacon community deeply admires the relentless efforts demonstrated by these five organizations. We are pleased to be in a position to assist them and Haiti during this most challenging recovery effort.”

The OneBeacon Charitable Trust is a tax-exempt private foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code managed by employees of OneBeacon Insurance Company. As one of the oldest property and casualty insurers in the United States, OneBeacon traces its roots to 1831 and the Potomac Fire Insurance Company. Today, OneBeacon’s specialty insurance businesses are national in scope while its personal lines business is concentrated in the Northeastern United States. OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. is a Bermuda-domiciled holding company that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OB”.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or referenced in this release which address activities, events or developments which we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words “will,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “predict” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to OneBeacon’s:
 
• change in book value per share or return on equity;
• business strategy;
• financial and operating targets or plans;
• incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses and the adequacy of its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance;
• projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per share, dividends, market share or other financial forecasts;
• expansion and growth of our business and operations; and
• future capital expenditures.

These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by OneBeacon in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including:
 
• claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, floods, fires, explosions, terrorist attacks or severe winter weather;
• recorded loss and loss adjustment expense reserves subsequently proving to have been inadequate;
• the continued availability and cost of reinsurance coverage;
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• general economic, market or business conditions;
• business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to it and pursued;
• competitive forces, including the conduct of other property and casualty insurers and agents;
• changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretation, applicable to OneBeacon, its competitors, its agents or its customers;
• an economic downturn or other economic conditions adversely affecting its financial position including stock market volatility;
• actions taken by ratings agencies from time to time, such as financial strength or credit ratings downgrades or placing ratings on negative watch;
• the risks that are described from time to time in OneBeacon’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to OneBeacon’s Annual Report on the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 filed February 27, 2009.
 
Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by OneBeacon will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, OneBeacon or its business or operations. OneBeacon assumes no obligation to update publicly any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Web site:   www.onebeacon.com

***** MEDIA ADVISORY FOR AUDIO PRESS BRIEFING ON HAITI TODAY – THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, AT 1 PM EST *****

WHO:  Save the Children, American Red Cross, Catholic Relief Services, Habitat for Humanity, World Vision, and other members of InterAction, a coalition of more than 150 U.S. humanitarian organizations.

WHAT:  Save the Children and other U.S. humanitarian relief organizations will share details of their work in Haiti, including progress, challenges, and what needs to be done in the future. From Port-au-Prince, Save the Children’s Director of Emergency Health and Nutrition, Kathryn Bolles, will speak about protecting the health and nutrition of children.  The groups will also discuss food distribution, camp conditions, orphans and child protection, rescue and recovery, and lessons learned from past disasters.

WHEN:  Today – Thursday, January 28, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (EST)

WHERE:  This is a call-in audio briefing.

 
Call in information:
U.S. Toll-Free:                           888-299-4099
Canadian Toll-Free:                       866-682-1172
International Toll:                       302-709-8337
Verbal Passcode (to be given to the
 operator):                               VC27526

Save the Children and other organizations within the InterAction alliance have raised $350 million from the American public to put toward relief efforts. Since the earthquake on January 12, Save the Children’s staff members in Haiti have been responding to the immediate needs of children and families.  The humanitarian organization has worked in Haiti since 1978 and has more than 250 staff in the country.
 
Save the Children is the leading, independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 29 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

CONTACT:  Tanya Weinberg of Save the Children, +1-202-640-6647,

/PRNewswire-USNewswire — Jan. 28/

Adds Haiti To Optimum Voice Included Calling Area To Facilitate Contact Between Customers And Those Impacted By Devastating Earthquake

 BETHPAGE, N.Y., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced that the unlimited calling area available to Optimum Voice phone customers was being temporarily extended to include calls to landlines and mobile phones in Haiti, in light of this week’s devastating earthquake.

 ”We know we have customers who are trying to reach family and friends in Haiti, and want to do everything we can to help facilitate these connections,” said John Trierweiler, Cablevision’s senior vice president of product management.  “We also know that many are experiencing difficulty placing and completing these calls, frequently with long delays, and do not want our customers to be concerned with fees or per-minute charges while they are trying to reach loved ones in this difficult time.”

Calls to Haiti will continue to be free until further notice, the company said.

 About Cablevision

Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) is one of the nation’s leading media and entertainment companies. Its cable television operations serve more than 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area. The company’s advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO TV® digital television, Optimum Online® high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice® digital voice-over-cable, and its Optimum Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv, through Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, and serves the New York area as publisher of Newsday and other niche publications through Newsday Media Group. In addition to these businesses, Cablevision owns Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company also operates New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, and the Chicago Theatre, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas.

WAYNE, N.J., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ — As part of its ongoing commitment to keep children safe and help them in times of need, the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund today announced a $150,000 donation to help Save the Children in its efforts to provide immediate relief to victims of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday.

 ”Save the Children is a global humanitarian organization that responds to the unique needs of the world’s youngest victims in the wake of natural disasters. According to Save the Children, the quake is the worst disaster Haiti has experienced in over 200 years.

 ”Save the Children is truly thankful for the support offered by the Toys”R”Us family to launch rapid relief for children and families who had so little even before this crisis,” said Dr. Charles F. MacCormack, President of Save the Children. “We have worked in Haiti for over 20 years and are already responding to the disaster with child-focused efforts based on our first assessments and conditions on the ground.”

 In addition to delivering immediate relief, including food, shelter, hygiene supplies and water, Save the Children is working to support the emotional needs of the littlest victims of this disaster, as these children have experienced tremendous shock and now face uncertainty in the coming weeks and months.

 Toys”R”Us, Inc. and the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity associated with Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us, together have an ongoing partnership with Save the Children to offer support in situations where children need urgent assistance as a result of large-scale disasters in the U.S. and around the world.

 Company employees are also responding to the crisis in Haiti by making individual donations to relief efforts, including to Save the Children. These donations will be eligible to be matched through the Toys”R”Us, Inc. Matching Gifts Program.

 About the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund

The Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund is a public charity affiliated with Toys”R”Us, Inc. The core mission of the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund is to keep children safe and help them in times of need. Since it was founded in 1992, the Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund has contributed millions of dollars to qualified organizations that support that mission, including those providing disaster relief to children and families who are victims of large-scale crises. The Toys”R”Us Children’s Fund also provides grants to leading organizations that support children with special needs.

 About Toys”R”Us, Inc.

Toys”R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands.  It currently sells merchandise in more than 1,550 stores, including 849 Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores in the United States, and more than 700 international stores in 33 countries, consisting of both licensed and franchised stores. In addition, it sells extraordinary toys in two FAO Schwarz stores in the United States.  With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com, FAO.com and babyuniverse.com, it provides shoppers with an unparalleled online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. In addition, the company operates ePregnancy.com, an online resource for parents. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys”R”Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need.