Bechtel Launches Campaign to Raise Money for Syrian Refugees

Bechtel today announced a special campaign among its 58,000 employees to help the millions of Syrian families that have fled their homeland.

The company’s philanthropic entity, Bechtel Group Foundation, began the campaign with a US$50,000 gift to the International Rescue Committee (IRC), a nonprofit with more than seven decades of success in helping refugees survive and regain control of their lives.

In addition, the foundation is offering a 1:1 match of employee contributions to any charity worldwide that is responding to the refugee crisis. The matching funds will go to the IRC.

“With Bechtel's strong presence in the Middle East and Europe, and our very diverse workforce, we want to do our part in responding to this heart-breaking humanitarian crisis," says David Welch, president of the company’s Europe, Africa, and Middle East region. "As builders, we know the immense infrastructure challenges that come from having more than 4 million people seek refuge outside their home country."

“We are facing the worst refugee crisis since World War II,” said David Miliband, the IRC’s president and CEO. “We are honored to partner with Bechtel as we work to provide these individuals with the resources they need to build a safer and more secure life for themselves and their families.”

Bechtel’s campaign runs through December 31.