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Monsanto Fund Pledges Flood Relief To Mozambique

The Monsanto Fund, Monsanto Company's philanthropic arm, today pledged $100,000 (US) to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in the flood-ravaged South African nation of Mozambique.

"This is a catastrophic disaster that has impacted tens of thousands of people and families dependent on the Mozambique's farm economy," said Deborah Patterson, President of the Monsanto Fund. "The Monsanto Fund has a tradition of supporting domestic and international disaster relief efforts. We are proud to be partners with the American Red Cross and embrace their philosophy of rebuilding devastated communities and the lives of those who are affected by these catastrophic events. This is why we are committing $100,000 to the people of Mozambique today and we encourage others in the U.S.A. to commit to this effort."

"Whenever a disaster happens, whether it's around the corner or half way around the globe, the American Red Cross relies upon the generous support of individuals and corporate foundations like the Monsanto Fund to help us speed relief to those who need it," said Dr. John Clizbe, American Red Cross Vice President of Disaster Services. "This contribution toward the effort in Mozambique will enable the American Red Cross in cooperation with other Red Cross societies to provide vital assistance to the hundreds of thousands of families affected by the devastating flooding. We are grateful for Monsanto Fund's support in relief efforts around the globe," he said.

The $100,000 leadership contribution will help the American Red Cross provide food, shelter, clothing, medicine and other emergency relief for the survivors of the devastating floods in Mozambique. With more than 2 million people affected throughout Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana and South Africa, the Red Cross has been working to provide relief supplies to people in rural areas. Providing potable water and shelter are the main priorities.

Monsanto is committed to finding solutions to the growing global needs for food and health by sharing common forms of science and technology among agriculture, nutrition and health. The company's 29,719 employees worldwide make and market high-value agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. A volunteer-led humanitarian service organization, the American Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to victims in more than 60,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. The Red Cross also trains more than 11.7 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provides direct health services to 2.5 million people, assists international disaster and conflict victims in more than 20 countries, and transmits more than 1.4 million emergency messages to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.