At a breakfast featuring U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the Austin Economic Club (AEC) designated four Texas businesses – Verizon, Exxon Mobil, SBC Communications and Temple-Inland -- along with Austin Mayor Will Wynn, as “Hurricane Heroes” for outstanding contributions to relief efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

“Verizon, ExxonMobil, SBC Communications and Temple-Inland exemplify the type of corporate leaders we have in Texas,” said Jim Cardle, AEC Chairman.  “When these disasters hit, these companies and their employees quickly found ways to help.  As corporate citizens, we think their efforts need to be commended.  We wanted to hold them up as shining examples of what so many Texas corporations did during a time of real need.”

Exxon Mobil donated thousands of gallons of gasoline to emergency first-responders along the coast, had 16,000 employees volunteer to help relief efforts, and contributed $7 million to the American Red Cross.

Temple-Inland contributed more than $2 million in cash and in-kind donations in support of hurricane relief efforts.  Contributions were sent directly to cities and counties in Texas and Louisiana where company operations are located, including areas devastated by the storms and to localities that sheltered evacuees.  For example, Temple-Inland contributed $250,000 to the city of Austin to aid in its relief efforts.  In addition, Temple-Inland continued to pay employees during the time that manufacturing facilities were shut down, provided a cash gift to each employee, and provided crisis management support to local communities.

The Verizon Foundation and Verizon employees have contributed more than $10 million to disaster relief funds.  The company also donated 10,000 cell phones to the American Red Cross, 20,000 pre-paid calling cards to evacuees, and brought in mobile pay-phone trailers to areas without phone service.  

SBC Communications set up a $2 million fund to match employee contributions, for a possible total of $4 million.  They provided millions of dollars worth of free long distance, voice mail boxes, and internet access to help evacuees find missing loves ones, and to search for housing and jobs.

Mayor Wynn was honored for leading Austin’s well-organized and compassionate relief efforts to evacuees from the New Orleans and Houston areas. “Mayor Wynn made our state’s capital proud and exhibited outstanding leadership.”

The Austin Economic Club is a non-profit resource whose mission is to discuss and encourage the general diffusion of free-market principles to the Austin business community, as well as to the public at large. For more information, visit www.AustinEconomicClub.org.