Corporation recognized for CPR/first aid training, placing AEDs, and hosting blood drives

St. Louis, Wednesday, October 17, 2007 - A team of volunteers and staff from the American Red Cross presented the Lifesaver Community Award to Bunge North America on Tuesday. During the onsite event, the Red Cross commended Bunge North America for its outstanding commitment to emergency preparedness.

"Bunge North America is a strong advocate for critical health and safety training and has created a safer corporate environment by preparing its employees to respond during a medical emergency," said Joseph C. White, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "In addition, Bunge demonstrates genuine concern for the greater community, hosting blood drives that have collected enough units to save as many as 285 lives. For all these reasons, the Red Cross salutes our friends at Bunge North America. This recognition is well deserved."

The Lifesaver Community Award is designed to honor corporations, municipalities and civic organizations for contributing to a safer community environment. Award criteria includes utilizing Red Cross health and safety training for at least three years, training employees in CPR and First Aid on a regular basis, placing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) onsite, and hosting regular Red Cross blood drives onsite.

Details regarding the Bunge North America's preparedness efforts include the following:

• Utilized Red Cross CPR and First Aid training since 1999, adding an AED component in 2004.
• Trained 50 employees in lifesaving skills since last year.
• Purchased four AEDs for its corporate headquarters in 2006, and has since ordered 10 additional AEDs for facilities in other locations.
• Hosted four Red Cross blood drives onsite since 2005, collecting 95 units of blood - saving as many as 285 lives.

About the Red Cross Lifesaver Program:
The Lifesaver Award Program, sponsored by AAA, is designed to inspire others to get trained in First Aid and CPR by recognizing local citizens for preparing themselves to respond in an emergency situation. Last year, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter trained more than 85,000 local residents in CPR and First Aid, including more than 15,000 in the use of AEDs. Since its inception in 1984, the Red Cross Lifesaver Program has honored more than 325 St. Louis heroes. The program supports the Red Cross mission to help our communities prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. In 2007, the St. Louis Area Chapter expanded the Lifesaver Award Program to include the Lifesaver Community Awards.

For More Information:
To learn more about the Lifesaver Community Awards or the programs and services provided by the American Red Cross, please contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.

About the American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region:
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian, non-profit organization founded in 1881. The Red Cross collects almost half of the nation's blood supply. The Missouri-Illinois Region annually distributes over 500,000 blood products to patients in need. The Region's headquarters and National Testing Lab are located in St. Louis and currently stands ready to serve over 120 hospitals in 122 counties and operates four distribution centers. The Red Cross relies on the generosity of volunteer blood donors to maintain a safe and adequate blood supply all year long. To find out more about the American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region, please call 1-800 GIVE LIFE (448.3543), or log onto www.americanredcrossblood.org.

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 90 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.

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