MasterCard Donates to Storm Relief Efforts

The winds may have died down but the needs remain. In the wake of the worst tornado to hit the area in decades, the O’Fallon center is playing a role to support charitable efforts that assist storm victims in rebuilding their lives.

“Obviously, we saw the damage done by those extraordinary storms and wanted to help,” said Amanda Gioia, senior business leader for worldwide communications. “These folks are our friends and neighbors and knowing the damage was so substantial, we wanted to do what we could.”

On April 26, MasterCard donated $50,000 to local relief efforts. The money will be split evenly between the Red Cross and the United Way.

“This is a devastating time for those whose lives were impacted by the storms,” said Rob Reeg, president of MasterCard Technologies in a release announcing the move. “At MasterCard, we are compelled to help these individuals and families by supporting two organizations that are doing so much to reach out to our communities.”

The area houses the company’s technology operations. MasterCard moved from the Westport area to O’Fallon a decade ago.

“It’s important for us to be able to help the community we live and work in so when something of this magnitude happens we say what can we do to help?” Gioia said. “We have a really robust community giving program in St. Louis as well as around the globe.”

In addition to the lump sum payment, MasterCard will also double match employee gifts through May 25.

“We have a really good relationship with the United Way,” said Gioia. “We run a campaign here every year. We have said to them to put [the funds] where it can be of the most use and the same thing to the Red Cross.”