In 2010, El Paso contributed more than $4.8 million to support charitable causes, which is an increase of more than $1 million from 2009. The increased giving amount was primarily driven by higher employee matching gift contributions and our growing partnership with the NFF.
Our employees had a voice in where the company made those contributions. El Paso matches employee gifts at 100 percent, up to $20,000 per employee, when the employee makes a financial pledge to the qualifying charity of their choice. Each fall, we host a five-week campaign, Give Where You Live, designed to raise even more awareness of our Neighbor to Have commitment. During 2010, more than $1.3 million was contributed by employees through this program, which was matched dollar-for-dollar by the company.
In addition to an annual fall employee giving campaign, we also offer year-round giving through Give Where You Live as a contribution option to our employees. At any time during the year, employees can make donations to the educational institutions and nonprofits that are important to them. These contributions are also matched dollar-for-dollar.
Consistent with our vision to be the Neighbor to Have, we have developed a process to quickly and effectively respond to disasters impacting communities. Our primary partner in providing relief services is the American Red Cross. Through our strategic partnership, we quickly identify the local chapter(s) responding to disasters such as wildfires, tornados, or flooding. Our support is often a combination of an initial corporate contribution, combined with contributions made by our employees through our matching gifts program.
Companywide, we have recently responded to the Haiti earthquake, the Japan tsunami, and the severe storms and tornados across the South that significantly impacted communities in Alabama and Georgia in May 2011. To mobilize support and assist employees wishing to help with initial, immediate relief efforts, we coordinated our giving and arranged for donations designated for these disasters to go the American Red Cross. Our Give Where You Live Web site was enabled with links to help employees donate and have their contributions matched by El Paso.
In-kind Giving
El Paso also has an in-kind giving program through which we donate office furniture, computers, and other surplus items to organizations in need. We receive and process requests for in-kind giving, then coordinate with the appropriate departments to identify surplus office supplies and equipment that can meet the requesting organization’s needs.
