News & Events
BD Pledges $1,000,000 to Help Victims and Families;
Launches Worldwide Employee Contributions Campaign
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Franklin Lakes, NJ (September 24, 2001) --
Contact:
Franklin Lakes, NJ -- September 24, 2001 -- In the hours and days following the terrorist attacks carried out in the United States on September 11, 2001, BD people everywhere responded with outrage and grief over these terrible acts. Our hearts go out to those most directly affected by this tragedy and we join with our fellow citizens, and people everywhere, in pledging our support to help victims and their families begin to rebuild their lives.
"On behalf of each and every one of our 26,000 BD associates, I extend our condolences, prayers and heartfelt sympathy to the victims of this tragedy," said BD President and CEO Edward J. Ludwig. "The days ahead will be difficult ones for them, and for all Americans and other members of the international community. We are grateful that no BD associates were directly harmed, but I know that the attacks have touched many of our colleagues directly, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.
"As a healthcare company, we remain focused on ensuring that necessary medical products reach the people who need them as quickly and efficiently as possible. In addition, we are joining with many other companies and individuals to contribute what we can - both products and financial resources - to assist in the aftermath of this disaster."
BD Community Joins Together to Help Victims and Families Start Over
In the name of the victims of the September 11th attack, and in gratitude to those who worked to save them, BD has pledged $1,000,000 to support the September 11th Fund. This fund was established by United Way and The New York Community Trust to address the immediate and longer-term needs of victims, their families and communities affected by the events of September 11, 2001.
Because of the enormous outpouring of sympathy and offers of help from BD employees around the world, BD has also launched a special global employee matching gift campaign. Through this dedicated mechanism, the company will match, dollar-for-dollar, contributions made by BD employees - from any country and in any currency - to a special American Red Cross Disaster Fund. The six-month employee campaign does not replace BD's longstanding U.S. matching gift program - it extends it so that we can increase the value of every donation made by any BD employee anywhere in the world to this critical effort.
Beyond donating products, the entire BD community has joined forces to give what we can as individuals, and as a company. Like so many Americans, BD associates across the country have donated or attempted to donate blood over the last week. Our company has long sponsored blood drives in partnership with our local communities, and in the days and weeks ahead many employees will have an opportunity to donate through local BD blood drives to help replenish our nation's blood supply. We know the need for blood is ongoing and will remain long after this disaster has passed.
Rapid Response Team Rushes BD Products to Help Disaster Victims
Within hours of last Tuesday's attacks, a BD team was formed to make sure our products would reach customers rapidly. A Crisis Order Hotline was put in place and U.S. distribution centers located in southern New Jersey, Maryland, Indiana and California, as well as BD's major transportation providers, were on alert to rush necessary medical supplies to the Northeast disaster areas. BD also immediately contacted local and national disaster relief officials at the American Red Cross and other agencies to let them know we were ready and prepared to help.
At our corporate headquarters in northern New Jersey, employees gathered BD medical supplies, bottled water and other items and delivered them to emergency staging areas set up on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River to provide back up support for the disaster site in lower Manhattan. The company also delivered emergency supplies to local blood banks caught short by the volume of people wanting to give blood. Over the weekend, BD responded to a special call for ACE® bandages, which were rushed by police escort to EMT stations located in the heart of the disaster site to care for injured firefighters and other relief workers. We are proud and grateful to have been able to offer this well-respected BD product to help those helping so many.
BD is a medical technology company that manufactures and sells a broad range of supplies, devices and systems for use by healthcare professionals, medical research institutions, industry and the general public.
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