Publicis contributes $1 million to tsunami disaster relief fund

The global Publicis Groupe - which includes key South African advertising agencies, Starcom, Saatchi & Saatchi and Lobedu Leo Burnett, Publicis South Africa and Red Nail - has donated $1 million to the tsunami disaster relief fund in an effort to help continuous rescue efforts and people in the region to rebuild their lives.

Countless lives were claimed by a tsunami that hit several Southeast Asian countries bordering the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004. Thailand and India were the countries most affected by the natural disaster.

"We are very conscious of the fact that this gesture remains modest in relation to the suffering, devastation and the task ahead. However, we donate this money with all our heart, hoping that it will relieve at least a little of the burden," says Maurice Lévy, Group Chairman of the Publicis Groupe.

The International Red Cross in Paris will receive $500 000. The remainder of the donation will be made available to regional management of the Publicis Groupe in Asia, where a committee supervised by Jean-Michel Etienne will determine how funds will be allocated between the various organisations and Asian countries.