Caterpillar Foundation Invests $1 Million in ONE to Advance Ebola Advocacy
October 20, 2014
Caterpillar contact:
Lisa Miller
Global Government & Corporate Affairs
(309) 494-4566
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Caterpillar Foundation Invests $1 Million in ONE to Advance Ebola Advocacy
Support for The ONE Campaign will sustain response to Ebola crisis and support education and advocacy to strengthen health systems across Africa
PEORIA, Ill. – In the wake of the Ebola crisis, the Caterpillar Foundation announced today that it will provide an additional $1 million to the $7.5 million investment made to The ONE Campaign for its advocacy work in the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease in Africa, particularly to boost the organization’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
“Our work to address extreme poverty and its symptomatic ills will be deeply affected if Ebola is not stopped,” said Caterpillar Foundation President Michele Sullivan. “As a foundation, we feel there is a human and economic imperative to help ensure that health systems in Africa are strong and resilient. ONE is one of the best organizations advocating on global health issues and has recently been at the forefront of Ebola policy and advocacy efforts. This investment will leverage those skills to ensure the urgency of the Ebola crisis and its damaging effects on global health systems remains a top priority for political leadership and the public. The outcomes will help government officials put healthcare policies and measures into place aimed at protecting the citizens and stopping the spread of Ebola.”
ONE has responded vigorously to the Ebola crisis, with a particular focus on: resource mobilization and donor accountability; communications and advocacy messaging and social mobilization among its two million African members. (RED), a division of ONE, helps to amplify this work through creative and innovative storytelling platforms.
“As this crisis unfolds, this partnership will allow ONE to continue to advocate for short- and long-term responses to Ebola, acknowledging the effects the disease is having on every sector of society,” said Michael Elliott, ONE president and CEO. “Ebola has not only taken more than 4,000 lives—it has also broken down health systems, closed schools, shut down agricultural markets and hampered economic growth. There’s much to be done to support the countries affected in the short term and then helping them rebuild stronger than before.”
The Caterpillar Foundation has invested $30 million in Africa since 2010.
About the Caterpillar Foundation:
Caterpillar Inc. supports the philanthropic efforts of the Caterpillar Foundation. Founded in 1952, the Caterpillar Foundation has contributed more than $550 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by providing program support in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to education and basic human needs. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, please visit www.caterpillar.com/foundation.
About Caterpillar:
For nearly 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 2013 sales and revenues of $55.656 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 product segments - Resource Industries, Construction 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.