Our thoughts are with our friends and families in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Haiyan wreaks havoc. Since it made landfall on November 8th, Haiyan has caused widespread damage, displacing more than 618,000 people and killing thousands.
TU’s second largest group of employees is from the Philippines, so this disaster hits very close to home.
In fact, Project Manager Annie Gabaldon’s husband was in Manila on business when news broke of the widespread death and destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan. While many of us were enjoying our long weekend, Annie was waiting in fear as her husband embarked on a journey to find a missing cousin in Tacloban, a city devastated by the typhoon.
“Being from the Philippines, I was deeply worried about friends and family there,” says Annie. “When I heard my cousin was missing, I was shattered. Luckily, my husband was able to find her and get her out of danger. But I couldn’t stop thinking about all of the others who weren’t so lucky!”
When Annie rallied a group of Filipino employees to host a relief lunch in support of Haiyan victims, TuGo got on board. Employees’ donations of $5 or more to the Canadian Red Cross’ Typhoon Haiyan Fund totalled $1,216, which will be matched by the Government of Canada. TuGo then happily contributed an additional $10,000, bringing the total donation to $11,216. Read more about TuGo’s contribution.
We wish those of you who are in the Philippines, or those that have friends and family there the best.
Take care!
Sarah
