Special report: Strong Earthquake Jolts SW China

    WASHINGTON, May 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. aid group Mercy Corps has received a number of donations from corporations to help earthquake relief and rescue efforts in China, the group said Monday.

    Business giants such as Western Union Foundation, Goldman Sachsand Wells Fargo Bank have made a significant number of donations to bolster Mercy Corps' work of helping China respond to last Monday's massive quake in its southwest, the group said in a statement.

    The Western Union Foundation donated 250,000 U.S. dollars to Mercy Corps' mission in China, while the aid group matched the figure by gathering individual donations made to its website.

    Other contributions to China's quake-relief efforts include 500,000 dollars from Goldman Sachs, and another 500,000 dollars from their employees.

    The group also received 60,000 dollars from Wells Fargo, which has opened a donations account for anyone wishing to support the survivors and is temporarily providing free transfer services to U.S. customers who want to wire money to China for quake relief.

    "Corporate giving provides a level of flexibility and immediacy that is extremely helpful in the early days of emergency response efforts -- especially for the scale we're seeing with China," said Paul Dudley Hart, Mercy Corps' vice president for resource development. "We can find creative and effective solutions right away and that helps save lives."

    Mercy Corps spokesperson Susan Larrman told Xinhua the group is already working in Sichuan province and has established an office in Chongqing near the epicenter.

    "Mercy Corps is currently in the process of procuring a wealth of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies," she said in an email. "We are also currently coordinating shipment and working on an action plan."

    She said some Mercy Corps staff are on the ground in Sichuan province, visiting affected areas, speaking with survivors and assessing ongoing needs. One staffer is based in Beijing to coordinate efforts between Mercy Corps, its local partners and other possible sources of assistance, Larrman added.

    Mercy Corps, a non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon, is maximizing its effectiveness by working with long-time local partner organizations including the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and the broad-based All China Youth Federation.

    It also has a history of working in Sichuan province, home to the Agency's Project GLOW that addresses key social issues for youths from the impoverished Yi ethnic minority.

    Over the past seven years, the group has worked with the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation in rural areas of 14 Chinese provinces, on projects to provide micro-finance services to the rural poor.

    More than 34,000 people are confirmed dead in the 8-magnitude quake that hit Sichuan province on May 12.