WHITE PLAINS, NY, Feb. 22, 2010 -- ITT Corporation announced today that through its partnership with Mercy Corps, the company is donating five portable water treatment systems in Haiti, providing enough potable water each day for up to 200,000 victims of the January 12 earthquake. The units were donated by ITT and deployed through Mercy Corps' large-scale humanitarian aid response.
This collaborative disaster response is part of a strategic partnership between ITT's corporate citizenship program, ITT Watermark®, and Mercy Corps. The partnership consists of an ongoing commitment to help provide safe water during emergencies. Immediately following the earthquake, ITT authorized Mercy Corps to tap up to $100,000 of ITT's 2010 Emergency Fund, established to provide fast funding to support an initial, on-the-ground assessment of short- and long-term needs after a disaster. The initial assessment in Port-au-Prince identified an acute need for access to water and sanitation, and set in motion the process of delivering the life-saving equipment to Haiti.
"Lack of clean water and sanitation presents a critical health risk to victims following disaster, and as a global water leader, ITT is uniquely positioned to help," said Steve Loranger, chairman, president and chief executive officer, ITT. "There is much to be done in Haiti and we are proud to use our expertise in fluid technology to support our partner, Mercy Corps, with the rebuilding and recovery of water and sanitation infrastructure in Haiti for the long-term."
In the aftermath of disaster, lack of clean, potable water, combined with poor living conditions, exacerbates the threat of water-borne disease. As a result, providing safe water and access to adequate sanitation becomes even more crucial.
"Providing access to clean water and sanitation is an essential focus of both our short- and long-term recovery efforts in Haiti," said Nancy Lindborg, president of Mercy Corps. "With ITT as a partner, we are able to deliver the resources necessary to provide local communities with sustainable water solutions and help families in need."
ITT has also committed to doubling its match to contributions employees make to Mercy Corps, up to $5,000 for a maximum of $10,000. To date, employee contributions and the company match total $480,000.
ITT has a strong legacy of supporting communities in need and responding to disaster through its products and expertise. Most recently, ITT responded to the 2008, 8.0-magnitude earthquake which hit Sichuan Province, in Western China; and after massive flooding in Honduras displaced thousands of people in 2008, ITT Watermark provided Mercy Corps with funding and portable water treatment systems to restore access to safe drinking water to more than 50,000 people.
About ITT Watermark
Launched in August 2008, ITT Watermark's mission is to make a sustainable mark in the world by providing safe water to children and families in need. To accomplish this goal, ITT has pledged an initial $4-million over three years (2008-2010) to three nonprofit partners: Water For People, China Women's Development Foundation and Mercy Corps. From 2008-2009, ITT Watermark has provided safe water and sanitation to more that 115,000 children in 183 schools in India, China, Guatemala and Honduras and delivered safe water to more than 400,000 people following emergencies in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal, China, Niger and Honduras. For more information, visit www.ittwatermark.com.
About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company generated 2009 revenue of $10.9 billion. www.itt.com.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps helps people in the world's toughest places turn the crises of natural disaster, poverty and conflict into opportunities for progress. Driven by local needs and market conditions, our programs provide communities with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives. Our worldwide team of 3,700 professionals is improving the lives of 16.7 million people in more than 40 countries. For more information, see www.merycorps.org.
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