INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company today announced that it is responding to the devastating California fires with a commitment of up to $150,000 to relief agencies for the recovery and rebuilding efforts.
"Our hearts go out to everyone affected by these horrific fires," said John Lechleiter, president and chief operating officer. "We want to help those affected to recover and rebuild and hope that Lilly contributions might help in those efforts."
Lechleiter said that $100,000 in donations from the Lilly Foundation will be divided between three agencies. They are the San Diego chapter of the American Red Cross ($25,000) and the Salvation Army ($25,000 for immediate relief efforts, and the San Diego Foundation's "After the Fires" fund ($50,000), which will help support longer-term rebuilding efforts.
The Lilly Foundation also will match U.S. employee contributions, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000, which could bring the company's combined support to $200,000. Beginning today, any gift made by Lilly employees to any of the organizations noted above has been matched with company funds.
Nearly 40 Lilly employees -- most of them from the company's Applied Molecular Evolution research facility -- were among the nearly 1 million residents asked to evacuate from their homes. Fortunately, no Lilly employees have been injured as a result of the fires.
About Lilly
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/.
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