Matson employee match program raises more than $20K for Yutu relief

Bernie Valencia, Matson vice president and general manager for Guam and Micronesia, second from right, presents a check on behalf of Matson employees to the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter to assist with Yutu recovery efforts. From left, Marites Yumul, Matson liaison-Saipan region; John Hirsch, ARC-NMI Chapter executive director; Jean Sablan, Red Cross honorary director and board member; Valencia; and Prudy Denight, Matson account executive. (Contributed Photo)

Matson announced today that it has matched $10,868 in employee cash donations to support relief efforts in Saipan and Tinian as a result of Super Typhoon Yutu, bringing the total donation to $21,736.

The donation is part of a pledge Matson announced last October for $125,000 in cash and in-kind support for Yutu relief in Saipan and Tinian. Matson set up a special donation drive and match program at the request of employees and was prompted by a generous donation from the crew of its vessel Manoa.

“Our employees on land and at sea wanted to personally donate to help their colleagues, friends and family in Saipan and Tinian recover from the devastation of Super Typhoon Yutu as quickly as possible,” said Bernie Valencia, Matson vice president and general manager for Guam and Micronesia. “Matson’s matching donation was triggered by their generosity and drive.”

Vessel crews, departments, stations, and individual employees contributed to the company fund drive, with proceeds going to the American Red Cross of the Northern Mariana Islands.

During a check presentation ceremony in Saipan last Jan. 14, John Hirsch, American Red Cross-NMI Chapter executive director said, “The people of the CNMI are definitely better off thanks to the generosity of Matson. Matson provided financial and logistical support to the Red Cross, enabling us to help Yutu disaster survivors. Recovery takes a community coming together and Matson is once again a leader in this effort.”

Matson continues to support the Ayuda Foundation by transporting needed equipment and supplies to Saipan. Matson provides a weekly service to Saipan aboard the Mana.

For detailed Matson service schedules and other information, please visit Matson.com.

Founded in 1882, Matson is a leading provider of ocean transportation and logistics services. Matson provides a vital lifeline to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam, and to other island economies in Micronesia. Matson also operates a premium, expedited service from China to Southern California and provides services to Okinawa, Japan and various islands in the South Pacific. The Company’s fleet of owned and chartered vessels includes containerships, combination container and roll-on/roll-off ships and custom-designed barges. Matson Logistics, established in 1987, extends the geographic reach of Matson’s transportation network throughout the continental U.S. Its integrated, asset-light logistics services include rail intermodal, highway brokerage, warehousing, freight consolidation, Asia supply chain services, and forwarding to Alaska. Additional information about the Company is available at www.matson.com. (PR)