Soft drink manufacturer Pepsi has donated US$ 1,000,000 to the China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) to help rescue Sichuan earthquake victims. The Pepsi Fund presented the money at a donation ceremony on April 21, 2013.

Vice President and Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) and Vice President of the CWDF Zhen Yan, Vice President of the PepsiCo Greater China Tai Xiangmei, CWDF Secretary-General Qin Guoying and another staff member ttended the ceremony.

Zhen Yan (Front One) speaks at the donation ceremony. [Women of China/Fan Wenjun]

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Lushan County of Ya'an City in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 8:02 a.m. on April 20, 2013. As of 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2013, at least 184 people have been killed, 24 people were missing and another 11,826 people were injured, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

"The CWDF has been concerned about the earthquake and the progress of the rescue work after receiving information about the earthquake. Learning about women and children's urgent needs in the quake-hit areas, we built a platform to collect donations from the public," said Zhen at the ceremony. "We are deeply thankful to PepsiCo for its donations through the CWDF."

Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi said the company had made the decision to donate the money to the earthquake victims as soon as becoming aware of the CWDF appeal and said that the PepsiCo would always stand by the Chinese people and offer any necessary help.

Qin Guoying (L1), Zhen Yan (L2), Tai Xiangmei (R2) and another staff member lift a donation board together. [Women of China/Fan Wenjun]

Qin Guoying (L1), Zhen Yan (L2), Tai Xiangmei (R2) and another staff member lift a donation board together. [Women of China/Fan Wenjun]

It was the first donation the ACWF has received from a joint venture, Qin said.

The ACWF is now working together with the government sector to help meet the needs of the people in quake-hit areas with medical assistance and equipment, food, temporary shelter, post-disaster reconstruction and also in other areas.

(womenofchina.cn)