Visa Asia Pacific donates US$250,000 to International Red Cross for Tsunami Disaster Relief

Visa Asia Pacific is donating US$250,000 to the International Red Cross to provide immediate relief to people in countries across the region affected by last week’s devastating tsunamis. Visa is also enabling its staff to make personal donations by deduction from their salary, with the company matching donations dollar for dollar.

Visa Asia Pacific President and Chief Executive Officer Rupert Keeley said, “On behalf of all my colleagues in Visa, we express our deepest sympathies for the countries and peoples affected by the severe catastrophe. Life will not be the same in many of these communities where Visa has played a role in their economic development. Now is the time for us to join together to help them rebuild their lives and futures.

The immediate requirement is for the world to unite in the biggest ever humanitarian support program. Many of our member banks are making substantial contributions and Visa Asia Pacific is joining in this with an immediate donation to the International Red Cross of US$250,000. In addition, many of our staff have indicated that they wish to make personal contributions. Visa Asia Pacific will match any voluntary deductions that employees choose to donate from their January salaries.

While most of the attention is naturally on the immediate tragedy and the human suffering that it has brought, there is also the need to help people rebuild their lives in the longer term. We are considering options as to how we can best contribute to the massive task of economic reconstruction.”

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