Bermuda-based Bacardi Ltd., the world's largest privately held spirits company, has donated $50,000 for immediate relief to aid victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Bacardi partnered with the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), the disaster relief arm for the Organisation of American States.

In addition, various country companies within the Bacardi family of companies have organized Haiti relief collection events at their facilities. Trucks filled with emergency relief supplies including food, water, drinks, baby and medical supplies will be rolling into Haiti to aid the Haitian people, supported by the Bacardi donation.

Within days of the earthquake, employees of Bacardi USA, Inc. in Coral Gables, Florida; Bacardi Corporation in Catano, Puerto Rico; and Bacardi Dominicana in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, teamed up with local relief organisations to ship pallets of much needed medical supplies, non-perishable food and drink items and baby products to Haiti. These collection events will remain in operation.

"We need to get help to the Haitian people as quickly as possible. The Bacardi family, company and employees are deeply saddened by the devastation and horrific loss caused by the earthquake in Haiti. We hope these donations will help alleviate some of the pain they are experiencing," said Facundo L. Bacardi, chairman of Bacardi Ltd.

PADF creates public-private partnerships to assist the least advantaged people in Latin America and the Caribbean.