BD Increases Haiti Relief Fund to Include $5 Million in Product Donations

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, is increasing the supply of its products available for donation in support of Haiti earthquake relief efforts from the $500,000 announced on January 15 to $5 million in market value of critical medical supplies.  This additional commitment will help BD's nonprofit partner organizations use and provide BD products they have specifically requested to address the healthcare disaster and ongoing needs in Haiti.

BD regularly pre-positions product donations with AmeriCares, Catholic Medical Mission Board, Direct Relief International, Heart to Heart International and Project HOPE to enable these nonprofit organizations to respond swiftly in disaster situations around the world, such as the Haiti earthquake.  To date, these groups have distributed I.V. catheters, antimicrobial scrub brushes and antiseptic, needles and syringes, and various other BD products in Haiti. BD will continue to work with these nonprofit agencies as they conduct ongoing needs assessments for critical products.

This increase in BD's product donation commitment augments the $1.2 million fund BD initially established for Haiti relief efforts and brings the total to $5.7 million. In addition to products, as previously announced, BD is donating $550,000 in cash to nine humanitarian aid partner organizations (American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Catholic Medical Mission Board, Direct Relief International, Heart to Heart International, Partners In Health, Project HOPE, Save the Children and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF) and matching up to $150,000 in donations from BD associates worldwide to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF; this match is in addition to BD's traditional Matching Gift Program.

As a member of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, BD is distributing its donations among its pre-approved nonprofit partners, which share a commitment to the World Health Organization's guidelines on appropriate product donation practices.

About BD

BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

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