Ben Forta

Pearson is a big British company that lots of folks don’t know, although most of you do indeed know some of the Pearson Education brands (Que, Sams, Peachpit, New Riders, Addison Wesley, and more, and that’s just in the tech world; there is also Financial Times, Penguin, Dorling Kindersley, and more).
Pearson is also my publisher (for all but one of my books thus far).
But Pearson is not just another faceless company, there is a very human side to this organization, and this has been made blatantly apparent via their involvement in Hurricane Katrina relief. In addition to donating $500K, they are also matching employees donations. To affected employees they are giving temporary housing, initial support money, longer term financing, and continuing pay and benefits without interruption. They are providing 3 buses filled with computers and instructional materials so students down there can stay current, and high school students can complete credits to get their diplomas. They are providing backpacks, and other back to school items. They are sending volunteers to staff call centers, and are even allowing employees who want to help to do so, giving them paid time off (and not making them use vacation time).
I am more proud than ever to be affiliated with Pearson, a big company with an even bigger heart.