Caterpillar Foundation Donates $250,000 to Red Cross Relief Efforts as Australia Battles Bushfire Crisis

January 23, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Caterpillar Foundation Donates $250,000 to Red Cross Relief Efforts as Australia Battles Bushfire Crisis
In addition to the Caterpillar Foundation’s donation, the company and its dealers are providing support, including equipment needs. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. – As bushfires rage across Australia, the Caterpillar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), is making a $250,000 donation to the Australian Red Cross to aid in relief efforts. The unprecedented fires have taken lives, destroyed homes and devastated millions of acres of land and the region’s wildlife.

“Our hearts go out to the people of Australia as they endure this devastating crisis,” said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Jim Umpleby. “While our employees, dealers and customers live and work throughout Australia, the Caterpillar Foundation is making this donation to support recovery for all. The longstanding partnership between the Foundation and the Red Cross has demonstrated the organization’s exceptional ability to swiftly put relief donations to work in the areas they’re needed most.”

In addition to this donation, the Caterpillar Foundation is also a member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program. This program provides a funding base that allows the Red Cross to respond immediately to the needs of individuals and families impacted by disasters. The Foundation is also matching employee, retiree and dealer employee gifts to the Red Cross. 

“Caterpillar’s assistance extends beyond the Foundation. We’re grateful to our Cat dealers across the region that are providing their help and expertise in the face of the disaster,” continued Umpleby. “Their efforts include financial and product support, with in kind support of rental equipment and on-call field service for equipment used in the crisis efforts. Both Caterpillar and dealers are also providing various paid arrangements for Emergency Service employees.”

In addition, Caterpillar is providing support to its customers and various government entities who are aiding in recovery missions. 

About Caterpillar

For more than 90 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. Customers turn to Caterpillar to help them develop infrastructure, energy and natural resource assets. With 2018 sales and revenues of $54.722 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company principally operates through its three primary segments - Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation - and also provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.

About Caterpillar Foundation

Founded in 1952, Caterpillar's philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation, has contributed more than $740 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by building resilient communities that thrive in a rapidly changing world. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, visit caterpillar.com/foundation. To connect with us on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.