improving lives in central america

One of the ways Crowley can help make the company a great place to work, is to help improve the quality of life in the communities in which employees reside and work. After all, employees are more likely to be healthy, happy and satisfied with their careers if they come from strong families and communities.

Every community has people in need and Crowley personnel have stepped up their efforts to help some of those people in virtually every locale in which the company operates. Crowley’s charitable outreach in Central America in 2007 was one of those bright spots. Employees gave their time, talent and treasure to help more than 1,600 people.

Here’s a look at some of the things they did.

Panama
Employees organized a Christmas party for students at the Centro de Educacion Basica Cristobal Colon, a school. Crowley donated basic furniture, utensils, first aid supplies, a stove, microwave oven and a freezer, among other items to the school. A total of 80 children received gifts from Crowley employees and participated in group games and got to meet Santa Claus.

Costa Rica
Employees made 14 visits beginning in June 2007 to Escuela de Guarai de Heredia, an elementary school with 1,300 children between the ages of 7 and 14. The school, which is located in a dangerous, crime-ridden area, got a new lunch room with chairs. Employees are currently working on a restoration project for second and third grade classrooms and plan to install a playground.

Honduras
Employees visited with 38 children at the Fundacion Amor y Vida. The children, ages 0-18 years old, are HIV-infected. Crowley employees visited the center at least four times and participated in an educational day, worked on Christmas crafts and donated items like chairs, tables, books and other materials. The children were also served pizza and refreshments.

Nicaragua
Employees visited Hogar Pajarito Azul, a home for abandoned children and adults. A total of 105 abandoned children and adults live at the center. Crowley donated food items, plastic chairs and an industrial mixer while employees organized and participated in games, sports and musical activities with center residents.

Guatemala
Employees visited with 56 senior citizens at Cabecitas de Algodon, an adult home; and Fundación Ayudame a Vivir, a foundation for children living with cancer. Crowley donated medicines, diapers, a food stuff, water heaters and stove, among other items. Employees provided gifts for the residents, donated food items and spent numerous hours at both centers.

El Salvador
Employees met with over 50 abandoned children at La Casa de mi Padre orphanage. Crowley donated items such as a stove, breathalyzers, special education supplies, among other items. Employees donated over 370 hours of their time to participate in a children’s day celebration, Make a Difference Day and a Christmas celebration. Employees bought pizza, gifts and cake. In addition, money was donated to a program spearheaded by El Salvador’s First Lady to buy gifts for underprivileged children.

Dominican Republic
Employees visited an all-girl’s orphanage. The orphanage, which was founded in 1988 with 6 girls, currently provides 34 girls, ranging from ages 3 to 17-years-old, a safe, loving home. The orphanage received donated items such as a washer, dryer, freezer, drinking water fountain, food, sheets, and kitchenware, among other supplies.

While the charitable events were each unique, the outcome was similar. Crowley customers were also inspired by our employees and also contributed to the charity effort by donating items. Miami employees also got involved in the community outreach. Loyda Rivera, director of International Human Resources, coordinated the Latin America charity efforts.

“They (the girls in the Dominican Republic orphanage) were very grateful for our contribution. They receive some support from the government but it is very limited so they mostly depend on charity,” said Nelly Yunta, Crowley’s general manager of Dominican Republic and Haiti services. “With everyone's cooperation we made 34 girls very happy. They felt like it was Christmas in September. We truly appreciate everyone's contribution. It was for a very good cause.”

 YouTube videos provide a glimpse into the lives of the people affected by Crowley’s charity efforts. Click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU5wPgiW99E&feature=related (English) or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAz2YQFX9yM&feature=related (Spanish) to view one of the several employee community outreach projects.

In 2007, Crowley’s Latin America, employees contributed $7,723 from personal funds and fundraisers, and agents donated another $2,000 for charity efforts in Latin America. Crowley also contributed monetary funds and other goods to each cause.

“Employees continue to be very energized about their charity projects and continue to impress me with their creativity and warm hearts,” said John Hourihan Jr, senior vice-president and general manager of Crowley’s Latin America services.