NEW YORK, N.Y.--Sep 19--PRNewswire/AsiaNet Leading Corporations Join National Effort of United Way of New York City and The New York Community Trust www.september11fund.org ... 1-800-710-8002 Donations pledged to the September 11th Fund, created by United Way and The New York Community Trust to help respond to the immediate and longer-term needs of the victims, their families and communities affected by the events of September 11, have surpassed $89 million since the tragedy. This is an increase of nearly $30 million in three days and is in large part due to the generosity and support of major corporations and foundations throughout the world, some of which have agreed to match employee contributions to the fund, as well. They include: Lilly Endowment $10,000,000 Microsoft 10,000,000 Atlantic Philanthropies 10,000,000 IBM 5,000,000 Vivendi Universal 5,000,000 New York Life Foundation 3,000,000 HCA 2,000,000 Siemens 2,000,000 Avaya 1,500,000 Abbott Laboratories 1,000,000 Bank of America 1,000,000 Blockbuster Inc. 1,000,000 EDS 1,000,000 Home Depot 1,000,000 Interactive Brokers Group LLC 1,000,000 RBC Financial Group 1,000,000 Starbucks 1,000,000 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide 1,000,000 Swiss Reinsurance 1,000,000 The Limited Inc. 1,000,000 Unisys 1,000,000 Verity 1,000,000 Williams Gas Pipeline 1,000,000 United Way of New York City and The New York Community Trust are working with city, state and federal agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations to determine where and when the funds will be distributed. All contributions -- 100 percent of each donation -- will be applied to provide needed help. More than 50,000 pledges, totaling approximately $7.6 million, have been made via the Internet alone. All financial contributions, including those from outside the United States, can be made as follows: Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-710-8002 Online: http://www.september11fund.com (Website with secure area for credit card donations) Mail: Make checks payable to: "United Way September 11th Fund" United Way of New York City 2 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016 U.S.A. Interviews: Ralph Dickerson, Jr., President, United Way of New York City Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive for Agency Services, United Way of New York City Lorie Slutsky, President & Director, The New York Community Trust Joyce Bove, Vice President of Program and Projects, The New York Community Trust SOURCE: United Way of New York City CONTACT: Jeanette Brown of United Way of New York City, +1-212-251-2473, [email protected]; or Ani Hurwitz of New York Community Trust, +1-212-686-0010, ext. 224, [email protected]; or Norbert Beatty of GCI Group, +1-212-537-8131, [email protected]; or Charlotte Tomic of Golin-Harris International, +1-212-309-0620, [email protected] Web site: http://www.uwnyc.org http://www.september11fund.com