Cornerstone: Responding to Pakistan's S.O.S.

We are the first ones to say it... we're behind in rallying support for Pakistan's 15 million+ people that have been displaced or affected by the massive flooding that, one month later, still has 20 percent of the country under water.

Thanks to some BG do-gooders, the call to action has been heard loud and clear!

The Blackstone Group is pulling together to help flood-ravaged Pakistan through a 100% matching program for employees that graciously give to worthy charities with active "troops" on the ground (and just happen to be Four-Star Charities, according to Charity Navigator).

The three charities we identified are:

• AmeriCares:  AmeriCares is a long-time supporter in Pakistan.  They have delivered more than $57 million of aid since 1990, including medicine, medical supplies, equipment, health care facilities and food. 
• According to AmerCares' website, "the latest AmeriCares airlift contains more than $500,000 worth of critical medical aid to help survivors of devastating floods in Pakistan."

• Save the Children:  Save the Children has the ambitious goal of providing aid to 2 million children and adults in Pakistan within the next six months.  To date, their teams already on the ground have: 
• helped feed about 85,000 families in cities across Pakistan, including Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Muzaffargarh, Sukkur, Jacobabad and Shikarpur;
• provided water purification tablets to families so that they can purify drinking water; and
• provided 11,800 people in Swat and 9,600 people in Dera Ismail Khan with tents, shelter kits and other essential materials.

• UNICEF:  UNICEF is already on the ground and has already: 
• provided hygiene kits, water tankers and high-energy biscuits;
• repaired 73 tube wells benefiting 800,000 people; and
• established 24 medical camps treating an estimated 1 million people.
• (Source: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_55406.html)

 
These worthy not-for-profit organizations are doing the heavy lifting of bringing hope and health to a nation torn down by unyielding waters that used to serve as the country's lifeblood.  The Blackstone Group is doing what it can to make sure that their admirable strides for change are supported.

We'll let you know how this initiative goes, so stay tuned!

 
For the love of research...