UPS, the world’s largest package-delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services, is contributing more than $1 million (7 million RMB) in cash and in-kind support to the earthquake relief efforts in China through its charitable arm, the UPS Foundation.

In an e-mailed statement, UPS said it is making a cash donation of $500,000 to the American Red Cross in support of Red Cross earthquake- response efforts on the ground, led by the Red Cross Society of China. UPS has pledged an additional $500,000 for in-kind support to aid the delivery of relief supplies.

An additional $50,000 has been pledged locally to the China Charity Federation for medicine, biscuits, clothing, quilts, drinking water, tents, umbrella, torches, candles and masks, among other items. The China Charity Federation is a China-based nongovernment humanitarian agency that provides assistance to low-income families and offers social-relief work to those in need.

“The devastation in Chengdu is heartbreaking,” said Lisa Hamilton, president of the UPS Foundation. “Through the efforts of the Red Cross and the China Charity Foundation, UPS intends to be a part of the effort to alleviate some of the suffering there.”

“The American Red Cross is grateful for the compassionate support of the UPS Foundation. Their generosity enables the Red Cross to carry out our humanitarian mission and allows us to make a difference in the lives of the individuals and families that have been affected by this terrible disaster,”  said Jeffrey Towers, chief development officer for the American Red Cross. “I would like to thank the UPS Foundation, and the entire UPS family, for their longstanding support.”

UPS employees are also being encouraged to make donations to this effort through the Red Cross at www.redcross.org or through Aidmatrix at www.aidmatrix.org/china. UPS is also a major sponsor of AidMatrix, an online system that connects donors and aid agencies for the more efficient delivery of goods destined for emergency-relief sites.

In another move in Asia, UPS has expanded its support of relief efforts in Myanmar to include in-kind shipping and logistical support and expertise. UPS will deploy a UPS supply-chain expert to Thailand as part of the United Nations’ Logistics Emergency Teams in support of the World Food Program’s aid efforts to Myanmar.

UPS is also providing an airplane to fly relief supplies from Utah to Thailand, where they will be processed for transport to Myanmar. Further, UPS is assisting CARE International’s operation in Thailand by assembling aid packages to be distributed to families, including blankets, jerry cans (for water), plastic sheeting, clothes and kitchen and hygiene items.

UPS previously announced its initial effort to support the Myanmar relief efforts through CARE, which has been established in Myanmar for 14 years.

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UPS, the world’s largest package-delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services, is contributing more than $1 million (7 million RMB) in cash and in-kind support to the earthquake relief efforts in China through its charitable arm, the UPS Foundation.