7.13.2006 - 09:00am ET

(CSRwire) Washington, DC - Four American CEOs have announced the distribution of $3.8 million to support victims of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season which brought an unprecedented 13 storms, of which three--Stan, Beta and Gamma--ravaged the Central America and Mexico region. The storms took nearly 800 lives, brought suffering to more than 850,000 people and left damages estimated in excess of $1.5 billion.

The Central America and Mexico Hurricane Relief Fund (www.HurricaneAction.org), is a private sector led and White House-supported partnership to encourage private donations for reconstruction in Central America and Southern Mexico. The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development provide guidance to the Fund. The four CEOs leading the effort are: Robert Lane, Chairman and CEO, Deere & Company; Michael G Morris, Chairman, President, and CEO, American Electric Power; Steven S Reinemund, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, Inc. and Maria Lagomasino, CEO, Asset Management Advisors, LLC/SunTrust Bank, Inc. The Fund was organized in conjunction with Global Impact, a non-profit supporting U.S.-based international charities.

The grants will support three key areas:

1. education for displaced children;
2. microfinance; and
3. infrastructure and reconstruction as well as future preparedness assistance.

The initial grant announcement made by the four American CEO's and Deputy Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Dina Powell, includes: $2 million to the Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org) to be used for reforestation and forest protection to help prevent mudslides in Guatemala; $250,000 to Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) in Guatemala to support educational programs including providing teacher training, summer catch-up programs, supplies and establishing day-care centers in shelters; $250,000 to CARE (www.care.org) in El Salvador to support microfinance loans focused on women in Usulutan; $500,000 to CARE www.care.org) in Honduras for repairs to infrastructure and promotion of gender equity; $400,000 to CARE (www.care.org) in Nicaragua to construct and rehabilitate refuge and evacuation centers; and $400,000 to AlSol (www.alsolchiapas.org) in Mexico to support microfinance programs designed to provide the poorest women in Chiapas access to basic financial services. The AlSol fund will also support a nutritional program for more than 1,000 children.

"We are pleased these grants will provide hope and a better life for the hundreds of thousands of people in Central America and Southern Mexico who experienced great loss due to the enormous damage and destruction," said Robert Lane, CEO of Deere & Company. "These funds will help support many families who need assistance rebuilding their lives and will allow communities to better prepare for future hurricane seasons."

The four CEOs volunteered to lead the relief Fund after witnessing and learning about the destruction. Several of the CEOs went on a trip to the region with Under Secretary of State Karen P. Hughes in December 2005. The goal of the Fund is to raise $5 million. Global Impact has partnered with the Fund to manage fundraising and disbursement activities. "The United States government responded with relief and reconstruction support immediately following the hurricanes, yet there are many urgent needs still to be met," said Renee Acosta, Global Impact's President and CEO. "President George W. Bush and the four CEOs have raised awareness of the effects of this terrible disaster and made today's grants possible. We continue to reach out to others to help our fundraising efforts," she added.

For additional information or to contribute to the Fund, please visit www.HurricaneAction.org.

PepsiCo is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies with annual revenues of $32 billion. Its principal businesses include: Frito-Lay snacks, Pepsi-Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices and Quaker foods. Its portfolio includes 17 brands that generate $1 billion or more each in annual retail sales.

Deere & Co. is the world's leading manufacturer of agricultural and forestry equipment, a major manufacturer of construction equipment, and a leading supplier of equipment used in lawn, grounds and turf care. John Deere also manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment and provides landscape and worldwide financial services. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2006.

AMA is one of the nation's leading managers of family offices for ultra-high net worth families with wealth greater than $25 million. Asset Management Advisors, LLC, www.amaglobal.com, is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and has family offices in Atlanta (2), Charlotte, Greenwich, New York City, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay and Washington, DC. The firm has over 200 professionals representing over 300 multi-generational client relationships. AMA is an affiliate of SunTrust Banks, Inc., one of the nation's largest commercial banking organizations.

Global Impact is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping the poorest people on earth. Global Impact represents more than 50 of the most respected U.S.-based international charities in workplace giving campaigns across the nation. Each year, Global Impact and its member charities touch hundreds of millions of lives in virtually every developing country through disaster relief, education, health training and economic programs that promote self-sufficiency.

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