Disaster Relief

In times of disasters, Whirlpool Corporation has worked to help people rebuild their lives.  Below are several recent examples of how Whirlpool and our employees have provided assistance to  people impacted by major disasters.

Hurricane
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, Whirlpool Corporation donated approximately $1 million in cash, products and services to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. As part of our support of the relief efforts, Whirlpool set up two laundry centers with 50 washer-dryer pairs in Houston's Astrodome.  We also  donated 126 washers and 126 dryers to the American Red Cross and the Mississippi Emergency Management Centers for use in relief hubs for displaced families.

The Whirlpool Foundation collected nearly $182,000 in donations from employees, which were matched, dollar-for-dollar by the Whirlpool Foundation, with proceeds going to the American Red Cross. We also gathered product donation packages to help with the renovation of the destroyed and damaged facilities of several partner organizations.  In the Whirlpool headquarters community of Benton Harbor, the company's African American diversity network assisted more than a dozen families that took refuge in the area. In addition, several of our manufacturing divisions hired qualified workers from the Gulf area.

Whirlpool Mexico provided support for relief efforts related to Hurricanes Stan and Wilma in 2005, which affected the states of Chiapas and Quintanaroo.  Approximately 225 ranges and 75 refrigerators were donated to the relief effort.  Whirlpool Mexico employees donated two tons of non-perishable food, as well as 20,000 pesos that were matched by the Whirlpool Foundation for a total of 40,000 pesos.  Employees also volunteered during their time off to help sort through donated food at relief centers.

Earthquake
In October 2005, Whirlpool India employees organized a clothing drive for people affected by the earthquake that impacted parts of Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

Tornado
Whirlpool Foundation contributed $50,000 to the relief efforts for people impacted by a tornado in Indiana in November 2005 through a combination of matching employee donations and a cash contribution. 

Tsunami
When a Tsunami devastated parts of Southeast Asia and Africa in December 2004, Whirlpool Corporation donated more than $1 million in financial aid to the region through the American Red Cross.  Whirlpool employees also held events to raise more than $94,000 for the relief effort.
 
Whirlpool employees in India contributed a minimum average of one day's wages to Indian government relief agencies, with the company matching each employee's donation.  At our Pondicherry facility, in an area hit hard by the Tsunami, employees quickly raised $15,000 for relief efforts, which was matched by the company for relief efforts.  Volunteers from Whirlpool India also participated in a Habitat for Humanity International build for Tsunami victims in the southern part of India, as well as initiated collection drives for clothing, cooking utensils and food for refugees.

In Benton Harbor, Michigan, the Whirlpool Asian Community organization raised more than $11,000 for Tsunami relief, which was matched by the Whirlpool Foundation and used to help build 16 Habitat for Humanity homes in the devastated region. 

Whirlpool employees in the United Kingdom also organized a Tsunami relief event and raised more than 1,000 euros for Habitat for Humanity for an emergency housing project. Whirlpool Europe matched the amount, bringing the total to more than 2,000 euros, enough for the construction of safe and permanent housing units for eight families.