On Friday Random House, Inc. announced a $100,000 corporate contribution to be shared by the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund and Haitian health-care provider Partners in Health (led by Paul Farmer, the subject of Tracy Kidder’s MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS). The publisher told employees they will match their donations, dollar for dollar up to $1,000, to any tax-qualifying Haitian earthquake relief organization until June 1.
Parnet company Bertelsmann has also announced a 100,000-euro donation to children’s relief organization Plan International.
In a different type of relief effort, Simon & Schuster’s Pimsleur division is providing free downloads of their Haitian Creole language program, in cooperation with major resellers, through March 31, “in an effort to support volunteers aiding the millions of people affected” by the earthquake.