Leverkusen, December 19, 2011 – Bayer is rounding off its aid to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan: As a result of a corporate fund-raising campaign, the Bayer Cares Foundation is donating EUR 700,000 to the Japanese non-governmental organization “Ashinaga” for the construction of a care facility for children who have lost one or both parents. Over EUR 300,000 of this come from Bayer employees from 20 countries who responded to the foundation’s call for donations. Group headquarters and Bayer in Japan together contribute some further EUR 400,000. As from 2014, orphans will receive long-term emotional care and psychological support in the “Tohoku Rainbow House”, which is to be built in the town of Sendai with further facilities in the particularly hard-hit region of Tohoku.

“After providing immediate aid, one of our main concerns was to ensure that the needs of the most defenseless victims – children – are met effectively and sustainably,” says Dr. Marijn Dekkers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG. “I am delighted that, thanks to the generosity of our employees worldwide, it is now possible to build this children’s home.” 
 

“Ashinaga is working all out to help children who lost their parents in the unprecedentedly massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. We are extremely grateful to the Bayer Group for supporting our project to build the ‘Tohoku Rainbow House,’ the core facility for those who are affected,” remarks Ashinaga President Yoshiomi Tamai.

Bayer’s strategy in the event of disasters is that the company provides financial and material aid as quickly as possible. The Bayer Cares Foundation in turn focuses on long-term reconstruction projects. Accordingly, after the disaster in Japan in March 2011, the company provided immediate aid in the form of a donation of EUR 880,000 to the Japanese Red Cross plus medical supplies with a value of EUR 700,000 to the Japanese health authorities. As a result, Bayer’s aid to Japan totals almost EUR 2.3 million.

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