Brightstar Supports Earthquake Victims in Haiti

Brightstar (News - Alert) Corp., a global provider of distribution and integrated supply chain solutions for the converging wireless and IT industries, has implemented various initiatives to help support the people affected by the recent earthquake catastrophe in Haiti.

 

Marcelo Claure, chairman, president and CEO of Brightstar, has initiated a company-wide “50-50 Fundraising Challenge.”  

 

For every dollar Brightstar employees contribute, the company will match it 100 percent. All funds raised will be donated to Doctors Without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organization that brings medical care and relief supplies to people caught in crisis. To date thousands of dollars have been raised by Brightstar employees.

 

The company is also donating wireless equipment through its United States operations including donating mobile devices to the relief effort including:

 

·         Through a joint partnership with AT&T (News - Alert), Brightstar has provided and delivered 5,000 wireless devices;

·         150 fixed wireless units to Digicel (News - Alert), the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the Caribbean;

·         150 fixed wireless units to Comcel, a Haitian mobile phone operator.

 

William Hague, executive vice-president, AT&T Roaming and International said, “When we learned about the desperate need for wireless phones in Haiti, we turned to Brightstar and they responded fast, and in a big way. We’re proud to have such a great business ally.”

 

In an effort to support the humanitarian cause, Brightstar has also come up with a non-perishable collections program to donate items such as food and bottled water, first aid supplies, blankets, sheets and toiletries for the earthquake victims.

 

Many pallets of donated items in January alone have been delivered to Haiti. The company, after the international disaster relief organizations have assessed what the people of Haiti further need longer term, is also planning to donate clothing items and shoes.

 

“We are working quickly to help assist Haiti in their relief efforts as well as their rebuilding efforts, with a specific focus on helping the country with device distribution to support the communications infrastructure as that is our forte,” Claure said.  “We will continue to monitor the telecommunications situation in Haiti, and as needed, we will work with our partners to continue sending additional critically-needed telecommunications equipment.”

 

In related news, OTR Global, the world’s largest channel checker to institutional investors and a known provider of primary intelligence, has joined the Wall Street Disaster Relief Day Initiative, “Stand Strong with Haiti,” launched in cooperation with the American Red Cross, the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, UNICEF and the Weill Cornell Medical College’s GHESKIO clinic in Haiti.