Okay, some companies are starting to step up to the plate. Nearly a week after the disaster and days after the mayor of New Orleans sent out a tragic SOS… some companies are starting to respond. The response still seems underwhelming, but there are some good guys out there.

These companies grew on the backs of American citizens and while I am relieved that they are starting to wake up to the crisis, I am disgusted by how slow they are responding and how little they are giving.

Abbott, a pharmaceutical and medical products company, has pledged to contribute $4 million, $2 million in cash donations and an initial $2 million in nutritional and medical products to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Abbott’s initial contributions include cases of pediatric and adult nutritional products such as Similac infant formula, PediaSure and Pedialyte nutritional drinks and Ensure and ZonePerfect bars.

Accenture is immediately donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross, as well as matching employee donations up to $100,000.

Aetna is matching employee donations.

A.G. Edwards is contribuing $100,000 and gathering employee contributions for an immediate gift to the Red Cross.

Albertson’s will donate $9 million in food and water and match employee donations up to $1 million.

Alcoa will donate $220,000 to the Red Cross and will match employee donations.

Amerada Hess said it would contribute $1 million to the American Red Cross for its disaster relief efforts in responding to Hurricane Katrina. In addition, the company will match individual employee donations to the Red Cross.

American Airlines flew 85,000 pounds of bottled water and nonperishable food items donated by the airline to New Orleans. American also picked up some of its own employees, other airlines’ employees and stranded travelers and flew them to Dallas/Fort Worth.

American Express is contributing $1 million to the Red Cross.

Anheuser-Busch said it shipped 12,600 cases of drinking water for the Red Cross to distribute to victims in affected areas of Louisiana.

Arby’s will give $100,000 to the American Red Cross.

AT&T will donate $1 million to American Red Cross and will match employee donations up to $500,000. AT&T will donate 35,000 30-minute calling cards and will establish IP-based calling centers to give evacuees and emergency workers access to free calling.

Bayer Corp. has committed $2 million in cash and product donations and will match employee donations to the Red Cross.

BI-LO/Bruno’s supermarkets will match up to $25,000 in employee and customer donations to the American Red Cross.

Borders Group, Inc. (Borders Books and Music) has matching employee donations.

BP is donating $ 1 million to the Red Cross.

Campbell Soup Company will contribute more than $2 million of food products, including soup, beverages and baked snacks, to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Campbell will also donate $25,000 and match employee donations up to $150,000.

Cendant is matching employee contributions up to $500k and is putting banner ads for the Red Cross on subsidiary Web sites such as Avis, Budget Orbitz, Cheaptickets, Ramada and Days Inn. The company is also coordinating to provide rental cars, rental trucks as well as housing in hotels and in timeshare businesses to DHS and FEMA workers.

Charles Schwab is offers a home equity line of credit up to $25,000 as either a new line of credit or an extension to an existing line of credit. The offer will include residences that have sustained storm damage that normally would not qualify. Offering loans is NOT giving – shameful!

Chevron is making a $5 million donation — $3 million to the Red Cross and $2 million to local charities in the area.

Chico’s FAS will donate $250,000 to various relief agencies and match employee donations.

Cisco Systems will donate $1 million and match up to $1 million in employee donations to the Red Cross. Cisco is also distributing “Communication Kits” with IP-based connectivity.

Citigroup will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross and will match employee donations up to $1 million.

Clorox is transporting an initial 12 truckloads (50,000 gallons of bleach) to staging warehouses in Baton Rouge, La. and Jackson, Miss.

Coca-Cola: Donated $5 million plus drinks. (Again, thanks for the donation, but you guys made $29 BILLION in revenue in 2004. This percentage of revenue is despicable.)

Comcast Corporation has committed to donating $10 million worth of advertising time for Public Service Announcements, in addition to $50,000 in cash to the American Red Cross. Comcast will also feature 10 hours of ON DEMAND programming in September, dedicated to airing American Red Cross updates, benefit concerts and information on what customers can do to help in the relief efforts. This does NOT help the citizens – it helps the non-profits. NOBODY needs air time right now… they need food, blankets, jobs, and shelter. Shameful.

Comerica will donate $50,000 to the Red Cross.

ConocoPhillips will contribute $3 million and match employee contributions.

Culligan: Donated 5 truckloads of water. ($718 million in revenue in 2004 and they donate 5 truckloads of water… thanks for the water – but come on.)

Dana Corporation will donate $50,000 to Red Cross and employee match to all other charities.

Degussa will donate $100,000 to the Red Cross and match employee contributions.

DHL will donate $500,000 worth of shipping services.

DirecTV has launched a Hurricane Katrina Information channel. When should we cheer? Launched a channel? They are looking for more viewers, NOT helping!

DISH Network will provide satellite television service to shelters across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Shameful – to “not charge” for something that doesn’t cost your company an extra cent to give away is NOT giving.

Dow Chemical is donating $1 million to the Red Cross, up to $1 million in employee matching gifts and $1 million in products and technology for rebuilding.

Dress Barn will donate $3 million worth of clothes to World Vision and match double-match employee donations.

Dupont is making a $1 million cash donation and is prepared to make product donations.

EDS, based in Plano, TX, sent an employee email out saying that it will match employee donations through a special website to the American Red Cross or America’s Second Harvest up to $1,000,000. It’s donating $100,000 to start off.

Edison International will donate $125,000 to the Red Cross and will match up to $25,000 in employee donations.

Edward Jones will donate $1 million to the Red Cross and will match customer and employee contributions.

Eli Lilly will donate $2 million to the Red Cross and match up to $1 million in employee donations. Eli Lilly will also donate $1 million worth of insulin.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced that it is making a donation of $1 million through its charitable foundation to the American Red Cross to help in the massive Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Exxon Mobil will donate $2 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and will provide $5 million in grants to local relief agencies.

Fannie Mae has mortgage relief provisions in place for borrowers in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and other states facing hardships as a result of widespread damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Flowserve will donate $50,000 and match up to $50,000 in employee donations to the Red Cross.

Food Lion said it would accept customer donations to the Red Cross and will send a truckload of bottled water to the area.

Fox Networks Group will donate $5 million in ad space. Try throwing in some money next time… I challenge them to find ONE evacuee that needs “ad space.” Shameful!

General Electric will donate $6 million to the Red Cross and match employee donations up to $1 million. GE will also donate $10 million in medical devices, power generators and water purification systems.

General Motors is contributing $400,000 to the American Red Cross and matching employee donations up to $250,000. GM will also donate 25 vehicles for use by the American Red Cross.

Genentech is donating $1.5 million and is also matching employee donations.

GMAC-RFC will match employee donations up to $1 million.

The Grand Circle Foundation of Grand Circle Travel in Boston has pledged $20,000 plus employee contributions.

Ford Motor Credit Company is offering customers affected by Hurricane Katrina the opportunity to defer up to two vehicle payments. Shameful!!!

Freddie Mac has extended its mortgage relief policies for borrowers affected by Hurricane Katrina in locations declared major disaster areas by President Bush.

General Electric is also matching all employee contributions, gave $1 million to the Red Cross, and NBC is hosting a live concert for flood relief this Friday.

General Motors is contributing $400,000 to the American Red Cross and matching employee donations up to $250,000. GM will also donate 25 vehicles for use by the American Red Cross.

Grainer will donate $1 million in supplies and cash.

Harrah’s Entertainment will establish an Employee Recovery Fund of $1 million and will provide Biloxi, Gulfport and New Orleans casino employees with their regularly scheduled base pay for up to 90 days. An employer stepping up – good job!

Home Depot will donate $1.5 million to various relief organizations, including the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The home improvement retailer will set up six temporary support centers to provide reconstruction materials.

Hospital Corporation of America will donate $1 million to the Salvation Army and other agencies and will match employee donations.

IKEA will donate $1 million worth of home furnishings, will match employee donations up to $250,000 and will donate total proceeds from the sale of a $9.99 heart shaped cushion.

Intel will donate $1 million to the Red Cross and is assessing communication and hardware needs.

IPSCO will donate $500,000 to the Red Cross and match employee donations.

JPMorgan Chase will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross and will match employee donations up to $1 million.

Kellogg will donate $500,000 in cash and products including seven truckloads of breakfast bars, crackers and cookies already en route.

Kimberly-Clark, makers of Kleenex, Scott, and Huggies among other brands, will contribute $250,000 in cash and $350,000 in production donations.

Koch Industries is donating $1 million to the Red Cross, $250,000 to the Salvation Army and will match employee contributions up to $1 million.

Kraft Foods will provide $1 million in food and cash grants.

LimitedBrands, parent company of Victoria Secret, Express, and Bath and Body Works, donated $300K to the Red Cross.

Lowe’s Companies will match in-store customer contributions up to $1 million. The company said it has truckloads of emergency supplies staged and ready for relief efforts along the Gulf Coast. Lowe’s also says its more than 1,125 stores nationwide will serve as official cash-donation sites to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

MAR Oil will donate $13,200 to the Red Cross.

Mary Kay Cosmetics has donated $1,000,000 to Red Cross.

MasterCard will donate $500,000 to the Red Cross and $500,000 to AmeriCares and will double-match employee contributions. Its has also donated ad space in the USA Today to the Red Cross.

Medtronic will donate $1 million to the Red Cross.

Microsoft is committing $1 million to several agencies operating shelters and distribution centers in the region.

Modine Manufacturing will donate $150,000 to various agencies.

Morgan Stanley will match employee donations to the Red Cross up to $500,000.

Motorola Foundation donated $250,000, and is matching employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to an additional $250,000.

National Association of Realtors will contribute an additional $1 million to funds established by realtor associations in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi to provide emergency relief to victims of the hurricane.

The National Football League (NFL) is donating $1 million.

New York Life Insurance will donate $1 million to the Red Cross and will match employee contributions.

Navistar is donating use of trucks, cars and logistics. The company also offered a 7750 square-foot facility for recovery efforts.

News Corp will donate $1 million to the Salvation Army and match employee donations.

Nissan North America will donate $500,000 to the Red Cross and provide 50 full-size trucks to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

Northwest Airlines will deliver hurricane relief supplies, including water, hand towels and batteries.

Occidental Petroleum has pledged $1 million to the Red Cross, plus it will match employee donations.

Office Depot pledged to contribute $1 million to the American Red Cross.

Onstar will provide services in the affected areas, a donation of $400,000 to the Red Cross and well as employee donations.

PACCAR will donate $1 million to the Red Cross.

Papa Johns franchisee owner Keith Sullens in Houston is using his location in Reliant Stadium, which is adjacent to the Astrodome, to provide up to 10,000 Pizzas to people arriving at the Astrodome from the Superdome. He is also offering 150 delivery jobs open across the Houston area to people evacuated from New Orleans as a chance for them to get back on their feet. On the corporate Papa Johns will provide water to people evacuated to the Astrodome. A true hero!
Pepsi Americas will contribute $500,000 in financial aid and water.

Pfizer will donate $1 million for rebuilding hospital and healthcare centers, $1 million for relief organizations including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the United Way of America and medicines, consumer and animal health products. Nice of them to donate to rebuilding the centers that distribute their drugs – real generous.

Phelps Dodge is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross for relief efforts.

Qpass, a small software company in Seattle is matching employee donations plus making an additional contribution.

Qwest Communications has pledged 2,000 calling cards and will match employee donations up to $250,000.

Safeway will donate $100,000 to the Red Cross and 10,000 emergency kits.

SBC will match employee donations up to $1 million and will contribute telephone and Internet services worth $4 million per month.

Sears will donate $500,000 in merchandise and gift cards to the Red Cross and match customer donations up to $500,000.

Southwest Airlines is bringing supplies such as ice, bottled water, flashlights and bug spray. The airline also picked up about 20 to 40 evacuees.

Sprint Nextel is setting up a mobile command center with full telecommunications system to coordinate a “massive” recovery effort and help get mobile service working again. The company is also giving 3000 Nextel walkie talkies to recovery workers and providing a total of 10 RV’s and vehicles with satellite cellular service.

State Street Corporation, is donating $200,000 and will be matching employee donations “on a first-come, first-served basis up to a certain level.”

St. Paul Travelers will donate $1 million to the Red Cross.

Talbots will donate $50,000 to the Red Cross and match $50,000 in employee donations. It will also donate 54,000 units of children’s clothing.

Target announced a $1.5 million donation to the American Red Cross. The company said in a statement that it was also coordinating the distribution of essential relief products requested by the Red Cross, including water, ice, energy bars and bug spray.

Tenet Healthcare, is matching employee donations 2 for 1.

Tesoro Corporation, the second largest US oil refinery, will donate $100,000 to the Red Cross and Salvation Army and match employee contributions. Tesoro will also be helping the city of San Antonio food bank on Friday collect food to be sent to Louisiana, Mississippi, etc. FINALLY an oil company steps up and then it is one of the smallest donations of any corporation – shameful!

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has pledged $2 million to Lutheran relief agencies and will match member contributions.

Time Warner (the parent of Turner Broadcasting) will match $1 million in employee donations to the Red Cross. I guess they being tighter than Turner because everyone is watching CNN.

Toyota will contribute $5 million to Red Cross.

Trinity Springs will donate 27,000 liters of bottled water.

Turner Broadcasting (the parent of CNN) will donate $250,000 and match employee contributions. CHEAP BASTARDS!!! They are making a killing off the coverage and only giving $250k?

Tyson Foods is matching employee contributions 1-1 to $1 Million to Red Cross or Salvation Army.

Unilever will donate $1 million in cash to the Red Cross and Salvation Army and will donate $1.6 million worth of company products including soap, shampoo, detergent, peanut butter, soup, nutritional shakes and snack bars.

UPS donates $500,000 in cash and $750,000 worth of services.

United Airlines will give 500 frequent flier miles to anyone who donates $50 or more to the Red Cross, AmeriCares or Operation USA. The airline is also planning a relief flight with food and supplies.

Wal-Mart: Donated $15 milllion and is opening mini-stores in the region. (Thanks for stepping up with the cash, but come on – Wal-Mart is the largest store on the planet and made $284 BILLION just last year….surely a billion wouldn’t hurt… their donation comes to ONE TWENTY-THOUSANDTH of their revenue. A person making $30,000 a year that donates $100 is donating at a rate 67 times greater than Wal-Mart. Its also nice of them to be so quick to setup places for people to BUY supplies!!!) UPDATE: Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need. Good move!

Washington Mutual will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross and will match employee donations.

Wells Fargo is contributing $1 million to the Red Cross.

Xerox will donate $1.2 million in services and supplies and $800,000 in cash to various relief agencies.

Wachovia will donate $250,000 to the American Red cross and match employee donations. Wachovia delivered food, water and generators to Mobile and Pascagoula and will continue to send supplies.

Warner Bros Entertainment is donating $500,000, plus matching an addition $500,000 in viewer contribution to the Ellen DeGeneres show.

WB TV Network is donating $100,000 to aid is affiliate at WNOL.

Western Union: Offered a 50% cut in money transfers for victims of Katrina. ($10 BILLION in revenue in 2004… how about FREE money transfers guys?)

Winn-Dixie announced a program called “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” in which people can make donations in its Southeast stores for Hurricane Katrina victims.

Thank you to President Bush for announcing that the response is unacceptable and finally realizing the danger of the situation.

WHERE ARE THE OIL COMPANIES IN ALL THIS??? Oh yeah, they are busy gouging us at the pumps. UPDATE: Some have been added to the list – albeit with paltry contributions.

If you know of any other company that should be on the list – let me know.