NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As the
anniversary of Superstorm Sandy nears, 100 volunteers last week
continued Diageo's long tradition of community service by helping
Habitat for Humanity's rebuilding efforts in Breezy Point, Queens. The project was completed by Diageo's
Community Activity and Relief Efforts employee volunteer group
(C.A.R.E.s) from Norwalk CT and
New York City, as well as local
employees from our distributor partner Empire Merchants. The
work helped repair private homes near the Habitat for Humanity of
Westchester Command Center in Breezy
Point, where more than 2,000 homes were devastated by
Sandy.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130924/NY85716
)
"The 100 Habitat Hope Builders that Diageo brought to their
volunteer event showed great esprit de corps. As Sandy's
anniversary approaches, many families are still not close to being
in their homes. Without groups like Diageo, the relief effort
would be seriously impaired," stated Jim
Killoran, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Westchester.
The volunteers were split into teams based on skills and
interest, each led by a Habitat volunteer. One group focused
on cleaning up debris. A second group painted homes. A
third tackled bigger construction projects, including rebuilding
floors in homes and weeding the entire garden surrounding the
Christ Church to make it a more beautiful place to hold services in
the warm weather.
Diageo's commitment to community service extends across
North America with hundreds of
employees volunteering thousands of hours each year and
contributing to numerous fundraising activities. This summer,
Diageo C.A.R.E.s helped Person-to-Person rebuild its new
Norwalk, CT facility. Local
employees have also provided support for organizations like
New York City's Church of the Holy
Apostles Soup Kitchen, the Norwalk Land Trust's Farm Creek Nature
Center and Bridgeport's Beardsley
Zoo. Nationally, Diageo is known for responding swiftly in
times of need and, through its Spirit of the Americas program, has
completed massive relief missions to areas impacted by natural
disasters including Afghanistan,
Haiti, Southeast Asia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, New
Orleans, Oklahoma,
Texas and, most recently,
Colorado. In the immediate aftermath of Superstorm Sandy,
Diageo provided two 280 kilowatt generators to the fire department
and an elderly facility in Newark,
NJ, and distributed 85,000 bottles of spring water, over 800
winter coats and 9,600 pairs of socks, underwear and t-shirts to
impacted areas of New York,
New Jersey and
Connecticut.
"Since Sandy, Diageo employees have contributed more than 2,500
hours of volunteer time and the company has given more than
$100,000 in donations and supplies,
not including the $10,000 check
presented to Habitat for Humanity. As we near the storm's
one-year anniversary, it was shocking to see how much was still
left to be done," said Jon Pageler,
Senior Vice President, Corporate Relations, Diageo North
America. "Habitat for Humanity's projects in Breezy Point captured the hearts of our Diageo
C.A.R.E.s volunteers since they were able to provide direct
assistance to the people in a community that is still hurting."
Habitat for Humanity of Westchester has worked on 800 homes in the
Rockaways, rehabbed 12 businesses, and assisted five congregations.
The organization led a FEMA disaster relief project in 2007,
mucking and gutting more than 250 homes in Mamaroneck, giving them the experience to
assist Sandy victims. Habitat for Humanity of Westchester has been there since the first
week with 8,000 volunteers helping in all parts of the
Rockaways.
About Diageo
Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks
business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands
across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff,
Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray,
Guinness, Beaulieu Vineyard and
Sterling Vineyards Wines.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than
180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the
New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).
For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and
performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that
promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice
tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
SOURCE Diageo North America