Roundup of Haiti earthquake relief news

ABRIDGED NEWS RELEASES

************************ MasterCard Canada waives interchange fees on donations to Haitian aid efforts

MasterCard Canada announced that it will waive interchange fees on Haitian relief donations that are made using Canadian issued MasterCard cards to the following organizations: Canadian Red Cross; Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières; UNICEF Canada; and World Vision. MasterCard Worldwide has announced a similar program for U.S. donations.

************************* Sears Canada makes it easy for Canadians to donate to Red Cross Haiti Appeal

Sears Canada Inc. announced today that it is making it easy for Canadians to donate to the Red Cross Haiti Appeal by accepting donations at all Sears Canada retail stores beginning immediately.

Donations may be made by cash or credit card.

In addition, beginning Monday, January 18, Canadians who wish to donate by phone may do so by calling Sears toll-free number at 1-800-26-SEARS (1-800-267-3277). ************************* Quebecor and its subsidiaries offer their support

Quebecor [parent company of the Sault Star] announces that it is providing its assistance to the people of Haiti through a series of initiatives to raise funds for the Red Cross and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation.

Quebecor will support initiatives by the organization Reporters Without Borders, including the implementation, as soon as possible, of a media operations centre that will function as a press room.

************************* LCBO stores collect donations for Haiti earthquake relief

Effective immediately, the public can help support those whose lives were devastated by the recent earthquake in Haiti by making donations to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund at any of the more than 600 LCBO stores throughout Ontario.

Donation boxes for Haiti earthquake relief will be displayed at all LCBO store checkouts until further notice.

************************* CAW strives to raise $250,000 for Haitian earthquake relief

CAW President Ken Lewenza has issued an urgent call to all CAW local unions, staff and co-ordinators to donate to the union's Social Justice Fund Haiti Relief Fund, set up on January 13 to respond to the devastation wrought by the earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The union is striving to raise $250,000 with the hope of triggering maximum contributory funds from the federal government.

************************* Travel Guard offers free assistance to U.S., Canada travelers, families affected by Haiti earthquake

Travel Guard announced that it will provide free emergency travel and medical assistance services to travelers and families affected by this week's earthquake in Haiti.

Services available through Travel Guard include coordination of emergency medical arrangements and evacuations, temporary lodging, cash wire transfers, passport replacement, translation services, message relay, emergency travel arrangements, and luggage tracking for items lost during the quake.

Travel Guard is also coordinating with its network of medical and evacuation specialists and air ambulance providers to monitor evacuation and assistance needs and facilitate evacuations from the area.

Travelers in Haiti or their family members are encouraged to contact Travel Guard's assistance coordinators for travel help or assistance in communicating with family members at hom

Family members seeking these services for their relatives can call Travel Guard's 24-hour World Service Center at 866-644-6811. From Haiti or areas outside the U.S., travelers can call Travel Guard collect at 715-295-1209.

************************* World Vision rushes relief supplies to Haiti earthquake survivors

Yesterday, World Vision rushed 18 metric tons of life-saving supplies from its warehouse in Denver to Haiti.

These supplies and others already pre-positioned by the aid group will help meet the immediate survival needs of those affected by the quake until rebuilding efforts can begin.

Yesterday's shipment include the following supplies: Tarpaulins for temporary shelter, blankets, collapsible water containers, hygiene kits (which include a month's supply of toilet paper), sanitary pads, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, body soap and laundry soap for a family of five, cooking sets (which include aluminum pots and pans, bowls, utensils).

In addition, Canada's decision to match private donations given to humanitarian organizations for emergency relief in Haiti will measurably lift donations and help save lives.

Donations made by individual Canadians to eligible Canadian charitable organizations over the period of January 12 to February 12, 2010 will be matched dollar for dollar by the Government of Canada through the CIDA-managed Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

World Vision has been working in Haiti for some 30 years and has 800 staff members in Haiti. While World Vision's office in the capital sustained significant damage, all staff were confirmed safe and are initiating a response to the devastation.

World Vision's goal is to raise $5 million as quickly as possible to help children and families in Haiti to help as many of the 3 million people who have been affected by this disaster. Those wishing to contribute can visit www.worldvision.ca or call 1-800-268-5528. ************************* Two million Aeroplan miles donated by Aeroplan

Aeroplan announced it has committed one million Aeroplan Miles to the Canadian Red Cross to support the emergency relief efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.

An additional one million miles will be given to Aeroplan's Beyond Miles partner Médecins Sans Frontières who run both a maternity and a surgical hospital in Haiti.

Aeroplan also invites its members who wish to support the Haitian community to donate their Aeroplan Miles to either of these Canadian emergency relief organizations online at www.aeroplan.com.

************************ Canadian Steelworkers respond to tragedy in Haiti

The United Steelworkers union is providing immediate financial aid, extending condolences and pledging future support to the people of Haiti.

Leo W. Gerard, USW international president, and Ken Neumann, the USW's National Director for Canada, announced an immediate donation of $20,000 from the Steelworkers Humanity Fund.

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