New York – Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, today announced that it has provided in-kind product donations to several prominent Haitian earthquake relief organizations to help them facilitate medium- to long-term reconstruction efforts including housing, job creation, and communication needs. The Toshiba product donations, offered to organizations including Habitat for Humanity International, MercyCorps, and Yéle Haiti Foundation, include Toshiba laptops, mini notebooks, portable camcorders, uninterruptable power supplying devices, TVs and photocopiers. The in-kind technology donations follow Toshiba Corporation's initial pledge of $100,000 made in January 2010 to help relieve suffering caused by the devastating Haitian Earthquake.

The goal of Toshiba America’s in-kind donations program is to help Haitian Earthquake relief organizations respond efficiently to supporter requests and information needs, as well as to facilitate inter-office communications such as daily activity reports on earthquake relief programs, logistical information and inventory updates on relief supplies. With this in mind, the Toshiba product donations were chosen based on specific requests from the organizations. Habitat for Humanity will receive the technological tools that will help them and the Haitian people rebuild their domiciles, Mercy Corps will use its new laptops to help Haitians gain short-term employment opportunities, and the new Toshiba products will help Yéle Haiti Foundation rebuild its damaged facilities and communications infrastructure. The donated laptop computers were specially built and customized with features and applications tailored to meet the specific needs of the relief agencies.

Noted Mr. Yoshihide Fujii, Chairman and CEO of Toshiba America, Inc.: “Our in-kind donations program is designed to help Haitian earthquake relief organizations maximize the efficiency of their recovery efforts as they address key issues such as housing and job creation. Aid organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Mercy Corps, and Yéle Haiti have been on the ground in Haiti working diligently to help save lives and rebuild the country.  We commend these organizations for their tireless efforts and great work and we are proud to help join in the support effort with our Toshiba products.”

“We are grateful for Toshiba’s generous gift towards our Haiti efforts,” said Kip Scheidler, Habitat for Humanity International senior director of Global Disaster Response.  “The need in Haiti is great, and this donation will support Habitat’s efforts to help families affected by the devastating earthquake.” 

“Immediately after the earthquake, Mercy Corps began tackling some of Haiti’s biggest challenges: helping people to earn income and gain access to water and sanitation. We also aim to help Haiti rebuild in the long term – ensuring that Haitians have jobs, skills training and financial services. The laptops and UPS devices Toshiba provides will aid our program implementation and enhance our operations in Port-au-Prince, Mirebelais and Hinche,” said Mercy Corps Country Director William Holbrook.

Executive from Yéle, “Yéle suffered greatly from the earthquake and our facility in Haiti was severely damaged. However, we have had a tremendous outpouring of contact from people who want to support the Haitian community through us. So, we would like to thank Toshiba for its generous donation, which will help Yéle Haiti support earthquake relief activities at our new headquarters and logistics facilities in New York City, as well as in South Orange, NJ, and La Plaine in Haiti.”