Canadian Pacific donates $1 million to Hurricane Sandy relief
Canadian Pacific announced it will donate $1M to assist with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The donation will include $250,000 to the American Red Cross; $250,000 to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City; and $250,000 to New Jersey Governor Christie’s Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.
“On behalf of the men and women of Canadian Pacific, we hope our railroad’s contribution will help in the rebuilding effort that continues in the aftermath of this horrific storm,” said E. Hunter Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Pacific. “We sincerely hope all those affected will be able to return to their normal lives as soon as possible.”
In addition to the immediate monetary donations, Canadian Pacific also encourages Americans who attend free Holiday Train events across CP’s U.S. rail network between November 28th and December 16th to give generously to their local food shelves. At each event corporate and community donations made to each local food bank will be matched by CP. The matching donation, up to $250,000, will be provided to Feeding America whose member food banks are continuing to provide food and other supplies to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Feeding America also provides specialized disaster training for its food banks around the country, ensuring a prepared network and seamless disaster response.
“Basic food supplies are in urgent need for those impacted by Sandy and unfortunately continue to be needed in other communities across the U.S.,” said Harrison. “CP and its employees believe that dedicating this year’s Holiday Train to the spirit of neighbors supporting neighbors applies directly to disasters such as the one we have just experienced. Through our U.S. Holiday Train we can help generate much-needed awareness for continued Hurricane Sandy relief, while, at the same time, support local food pantries that are visited annually by our train of lights,” added Harrison.
The U.S. Holiday Train, which launches at the end of November in Pennsylvania and New York, will visit 57 U.S. communities as it traverses westward through the U.S. Midwest.
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The CP Holiday Train program is comprised of two brightly-decorated freight trains that travel across the United States and Canada raising money, food and awareness for local food shelves. Each train features entertainers who perform a free live show from a boxcar that has been converted into a stage. Since 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised close to C$6.4 million and about 2.6 million pounds of food for North American food shelves