The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) and UPS (NYSE:UPS) today launched the “SaÄŸlam Kobi” pilot program in Turkey, an effort to help create disaster-resilient businesses, promote preparedness, and accelerate recovery after disasters. The UPS Foundation, a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Catastrophic Risks, provided a $460,000 grant to underwrite the program.

“We believe this project is of great benefit to the people and economies of both countries,” said Alfonso Martinez-Fonts, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “Not just because it promotes disaster resilience, but because it promotes communication, collaboration and goodwill between the public and private sectors of both nations,”

Turkey is a high-risk natural disaster location, particularly for earthquakes, which have cost the country an estimated $2.9 billion over the past decade. For this reason, the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council recommended it as the pilot site for developing a collaborative approach to promote disaster resilience among small and medium-sized businesses. This new initiative will foster collaboration between civil society and the private sector and will enhance community disaster recovery.

“Our hope is that this community resilience initiative will not only help build stronger and safer communities in Turkey, but can also be leveraged to enhance preparedness of the international business community on a global scale,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. “As part of our Humanitarian Relief program, we look for opportunities to build relief sector capacity by engaging with thought leaders like the World Economic Forum and the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Business Civic Leadership Center.”

The pilot program will be a broad collaboration across continents involving the public and private sectors, civil society, and government. The UPS executive team in Turkey will coordinate the efforts with BCLC; the Turkish Prime Minister’s office; AFAD, Turkey’s emergency management agency; the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO); and the Corporate Social Responsibility Association of Turkey (CSR Turkey). The initiative will also foster strong partnerships with community leaders and civil society organizations in Turkey.

In May 2000, BCLC pioneered a unique system for business disaster resiliency and since then, has partnered with small businesses and local chambers of commerce to implement it around the United States. This system includes: the DRB Toolkit®, which teaches safety and resilience measures to business owners; a Disaster Help Desk to answer questions before, during and after a major disaster; and, a method for creating public, private and non-profit cooperation to improve preparedness and response.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy and the global business environment.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

UPS (NYSE:UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation is responsible for leading the organization’s philanthropy and corporate citizenship efforts. In 2012, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $97.5 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/foundation. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center

U.S. community development. Emerging-market development. Disaster response. Social and environmental innovation – businesses play an important role in all of these issue areas.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center is recognized in the corporate citizenship field as a source for fresh thinking, exceptional networking and practical lessons learned.

The Foundation works to strengthen collaboration and understanding among companies, corporate foundations, chambers of commerce, NGOs, and governmental offices. As a partnership facilitator, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center helps businesses find highly effective ways to invest in local communities, be responsive in times of disasters, and improve lives and livelihoods across the globe.

The Foundations mission is to work with businesses to make the world a better place. Email ccc@uschamber.com to learn more.

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