The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has awarded grants of $750,000 to support the work of four humanitarian organizations conducting relief operations to assist people in Pakistan affected by this summer’s severe flooding, placing it among the largest U.S. foundation donors for the disaster.

LOS ANGELES – December 8, 2010. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has awarded grants of $750,000 to support the work of four humanitarian organizations conducting relief operations to assist people in Pakistan affected by this summer’s severe flooding, placing it among the largest U.S. foundation donors for the disaster.

“While flood waters have receded significantly, the scale of damage left behind is daunting both in terms of geographic size and long-term economic impact,” said Steven M. Hilton, CEO and President of the Foundation. “At least 12 million people in Pakistan continue to require a wide range of humanitarian assistance, from water and sanitation to food security, livelihood support and medical care. In addition, the incidence of malaria has increased, necessitating expansion of prevention and treatment services.”

Grants of $400,000 to Oxfam America will go toward a combination of WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) and agriculture activities. “Oxfam is recognized for the speed and efficiency with which it supplies water and provides sanitation facilities on a large scale in the face of the most difficult disasters,” notes Hilton. “It also has extensive experience providing support for agriculture and livelihoods recovery.”

A $100,000 grant to BRAC USA was also awarded to provide emergency WASH activities including construction of new wells and latrines. International Medical Corps received $100,000 to provide emergency medical treatment and distribution of medicines and hygiene supplies. Another $150,000 went to Merlin USA to support malaria prevention and treatment.

Providing safe water has been a priority area of the Hilton Foundation for 20 years and its disaster relief and long-term recovery grants are focused toward WASH improvements. “Water, sanitation and hygiene are key issues for communities everywhere, and have an impact on virtually every aspect of life, from public health to education and economic productivity,” Hilton states.

Over the past two decades, the Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $18 million to support recovery efforts and the provision of urgently needed resources in times of disaster.
“The Foundation places no geographical limits on the support we provide in response to natural disasters,” reports Hilton, pointing out that the Foundation’s grants are generally equally divided between international and domestic activities.

About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world’s disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in five priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance abuse, caring for vulnerable children, and extending Conrad Hilton’s support for the work of Catholic Sisters. Following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $1.5 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. From its inception through 2009, the Foundation awarded nearly $900 million in grants, distributing $80 million in 2009. The Foundation’s current assets are approximately $2 billion. For more information, please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org.

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Media Coverage:

South Asian Philanthropy Project
Philanthropy News Digest