International aid agency World Vision announced its partnership with the humanitarian initiative WorldBed. The international charity is collaborating on a national promotion to help deliver 200,000 emergency field beds to Haitians displaced by the January 12 earthquake. While nearly 10 months has passed, the basic needs of children and families in Haiti are still significant, especially following the recent outbreak of cholera.
World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization, with operations in nearly 100 countries, including Haiti, will use the easily transportable cot-sized, waterproof WorldBeds to provide disaster relief to children and families affected by typhoons, earthquakes and other natural disasters around the world.
“With so many Haitian children and families still living in makeshift housing, these beds will meet an essential need, and we’re grateful that WorldBed can provide for these affected families” said Steve Scranton, World Vision’s national director of cause related marketing.
To date, WorldBed has delivered more than 14,000 field beds to Haiti with the aid and contributions of dozens of organizations, ranging from single-location retail outlets to large retail chains, major furnishings industry suppliers and world renown philanthropic and disaster relief groups. Earlier this year WorldBed was granted tax-exempt status by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, establishing WorldBed as an independent, non-for-profit organization.
WorldBed sponsors include Anatomic Global, Overstock.com, the Consumer Product Group at Leggett & Platt, Ergo Customized Comfort, Relax The Back, FXI Foamex Innovations, Deslee Textiles USA, Brookwood Companies, Beds, Beds & More, A Bedder Bed and Wright Label, Lyon Credit Services, Specialty Sleep Association and Chicago Tape and Label.
"WorldBed created a very unique way for the sleep products industry to help disaster victims all over the world. When they revealed their plans to us, we immediately offered to be part of this effort," said Michael Nermon, the owner and founder of Ergo. “We want to help less fortunate people attain the essential benefits of a good night’s sleep, and this program is a great opportunity for us to do so.”
According to WorldBed president and executive director Laura Castro the roster of supporters continues to grow as the organization expands into more areas of the world where emergency beds are needed, such as earthquake-stricken Chile and in flood-ravaged Pakistan.
“With every new organization that gets on board, we have the opportunity to reach thousands more displaced people. We are grateful to World Vision who have partnered with us to help support WorldBed and help make it a reality,” said Castro.
WORLD VISION
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. For more information visit http://www.worldvision.org/press
WORLDBED
Created in 2005 to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina, WorldBed is a not-for-profit organization that serves disaster-hit areas of the world such as Haiti, Chile and Pakistan by providing donations of cot-sized emergency relief field beds consisting of specialized three-inch water resistant, medical-grade covered foam. WorldBed is made possible through the generous donations of its sponsors, including major sponsor Anatomic Global, the Corona, California-based manufacturer of memory foam sleep products. Visit www.WorldBed.org.