WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 28, 2009 - Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies, today unveiled a newly revamped Web site to assist the private sector's disaster planning efforts. Business Roundtable's The Partnership for Disaster Response was launched in 2005 following the Asian Tsunami to expand corporate commitment "“ beyond financial contributions "“ to disaster response and enhance the efficiency of the private sector’s disaster response effort.

"The Partnership for Disaster Response is pleased to introduce a new and improved Web site, www.respondtodisaster.org, the first clearinghouse of information on disaster preparedness and response," said John J. Castellani, president of Business Roundtable. "The Web site is testament to the fact that our member companies are committed to generously donating its many resources to ensure a coordinated response during the time of a disaster."

The Web site features a new podcast with Tom Lehner, director of public policy at Business Roundtable, recorded for The Stanford Center for Social Innovation on the private sector response to disasters. Additionally, the site includes case studies from leading companies on best practices in disaster response, tools on how companies and employees can contribute most effectively to relief efforts after a disaster, a directory of relief agencies and comprehensive background information on disaster response in the United States.

For more information on the Partnership for Disaster Response, visit www.respondtodisaster.org.

For more information on Business Roundtable, visit www.businessroundtable.org.

Business Roundtable is an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with more than $5 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 10 million employees. Member companies comprise nearly a third of the total value of the U.S. stock markets and pay nearly half of all corporate income taxes paid to the federal government. Annually, they return $133 billion in dividends to shareholders and the economy.
Business Roundtable companies give more than $7 billion a year in combined charitable contributions, representing nearly 60 percent of total corporate giving. They are technology innovation leaders, with more than $70 billion in annual research and development spending "“ more than a third of the total private R&D spending in the U.S.

Business Roundtable

Business Roundtable

Business Roundtable is an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies with more than $5 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 10 million employees. Member companies comprise nearly a third of the total value of the U.S. stock markets and pay nearly half of all corporate income taxes paid to the federal government. Annually, they return $133 billion in dividends to shareholders and the economy. Business Roundtable companies give more than $7 billion a year in combined charitable contributions, representing nearly 60 percent of total corporate giving. They are technology innovation leaders, with more than $70 billion in annual research and development spending é¢â‚¬â€œ more than a third of the total private R&D spending in the U.S.

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