Thomas Nelson’s Disaster Relief Efforts
As I am writing this, I am watching Fox News. The images of refugees trying to flee New Orleans are gut-wrenching. I can’t remember witnessing anything in our country as disastrous as what I have seen in the last three days.
This morning, I started getting e-mails from our employees with ideas for how our Company could help. Everyone feels the need to do something. I know I do. You can only watch the images for so long before you feel compelled to take action.
Realizing we need to act quickly, I asked Jim Thomason, our HR Director, to form a “Disaster Relief Committee” and make a recommendation to me by the end of the day. He and his team met and then made two proposals. (For Jim’s account, please click here.) I immediately approved both.
First, we will donate 100,000 Bibles to the relief efforts. Why Bibles? This afternoon, an official in Baton Rouge said on Fox News, “We need water, food, … and Bibles.” This is something I knew we could help with. Samaritan’s Purse, an organization headed by Franklin Graham, one of our authors, has agreed to distribute these for us. We will begin shipping them to Louisiana as soon as we get instructions from Samaritan’s Purse.
Second, I have approved a matching contribution program for our employees. We will match dollar for dollar any contribution our employees make to Samaritan’s Purse up to $50,000. Hopefully, this will result in a $100,000 donation to the relief efforts. I know that not everyone can give the same amount, but if each of our employees would give $83.00, we will hit this goal.
If you want to participate in this program, make your check payable to “Samaritan’s Purse” and send it to Jim Thomason. He will batch the checks together every few days and send them to Samaritan’s Purse with a matching check from Thomas Nelson.
Let me encourage you to dig deeply and give sacrificially to this cause. Please don’t procrastinate. The need is great. People are desperate, and they need our help. And, while you’re at it, thank God you have a roof over your head and something to eat. Then pray for those who don’t.
Posted on September 1, 2005
In: Publishing
MICHELE CUSHATT is a communicator and storyteller whose speaking experience includes Women of Faith, Focus on the Family, and Compassion International. As emcee and communication coach, Michele is in her sixth year on staff at 
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