Kirkland & Ellis LLP Gives $280,000 to China Earthquake Relief

The Kirkland & Ellis Foundation donated $280,000 to the Red Cross' China Earthquake Relief Fund for victims of the earthquake that occurred in Sichuan province on May 12, 2008.  Kirkland's donation included a $100,000 immediate contribution, plus $180,000 in additional partner and employee gifts and matching funds from the Foundation. 

"This tragic natural disaster caused massive loss of life and destruction," said Vicki Hood, Kirkland partner, and president and director of the Kirkland & Ellis Foundation. "The great bravery shown by the Chinese, and our commitment to our Chinese colleagues and friends, inspired us to support their relief and rebuilding efforts."

The Red Cross' China Earthquake Relief Fund is working with its partners in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the Red Cross Society of China, to assist those affected by the disaster by delivering relief supplies and coordinating logistics and transportation of disaster workers to the hardest hit areas.

"This generous gift from Kirkland & Ellis will have an immediate and lasting impact on the people in Sichuan province who are most in need of assistance," said Fran Maher, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago.

The earthquake that struck the Sichuan province in southwestern China measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. It took more than 69,000 lives, injured nearly 374,000 people and left approximately 5.4 million people homeless.

For more information on the Red Cross' China Earthquake Relief Fund, visit http://www.ifrc.org.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,400-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex corporate and tax, litigation, restructuring, dispute resolution and arbitration, and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in Hong Kong, Chicago, London, Munich, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.