Dell to donate to Chinese Earthquake Relief

Hardware vendor Dell is proving that it has a softer side. Dell and its employees will donate up to AU$320,000 to aid relief efforts in the wake of the massive earthquake affecting China – the second major disaster to hit Asia in less than a week.

Michael Dell, Dell’s chairman and CEO said while its employees in Chengdu and Chongqing are safe and accounted for, thousands of families in the region have been impacted by these disasters.

During a visit to China this week, Dell said: “I’ve experienced firsthand the concern of our employees, customers and suppliers. We hope our donations will make a difference to the thousands affected.”

The company’s contributions will come from Dell, the Dell Foundation and Dell employees, whose funds will be matched by Dell through the company’s Direct Giving program, Dell said.

According to Dell, 2008 marks Dell’s 10th year doing business in China. The company employs more than 6,000 people across the country in several locations, including facilities in Chengdu and Chongqing, two manufacturing plants in Xiamen, an Enterprise Command Center in Xiamen, a global product-design/engineering center in Shanghai (one of Dell’s largest outside the United States), and an international service centre in Dalian for customers in Japan and South Korea.

Last year, Dell employees volunteered more than 7,000 hours and the company donated AU$760,000 to Chinese charities, he said.