The Financial Times has chosen International Rescue Committee, a global charity that saves and rebuilds lives in the wake of conflict and disaster, for its 2014-2015 charity seasonal appeal.

FT appeals have raised over £14 million for charities over the last eight years, including Action Against HungerCamfedRoom to ReadSightsaversThe Global Fund for ChildrenWateraid and World Child Cancer. The annual appeal runs from November to January, raising money and increasing awareness of the charity through editorial coverage of its work. Content includes features, videos, images and interactive graphics in the FT newspaper, magazine and online. Charities are selected by staff vote, and FT readers and corporate partners are encouraged to donate.

FT editor Lionel Barber said: “The FT is pleased to be working with International Rescue Committee for this year’s appeal, particularly at a time of immense displacement and disruption for people around the globe. We report from many of the 30 countries where IRC works, including war-torn Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, and have an opportunity to shed light on their critical work. The impact of our seasonal appeals reflect the generosity of our readers and the important causes of the charity organisations we work with.”

David Miliband, President and CEO of International Rescue Committee, said: “On behalf of the millions of people around the world displaced by conflict and disaster, IRC is delighted and honoured to have been chosen by FT staff for their seasonal appeal. Tragically, human misery is a growth industry, especially in the Middle East and large parts of Africa where conflict combines with weak governance to wreck lives, but the focus of our appeal will be practical social and economic interventions that can make a long-lasting difference for vulnerable people. We look forward to introducing FT readers to IRC staff and clients transforming lives with stories of ingenuity, heroism and determination.”

See coverage from last year’s seasonal appeal on FT.com, and for more information on International Rescue Committee visit www.rescue-uk.org. Charities interested in applying for the 2015-2016 seasonal appeal can find further information here.

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UK/EMEA:

Emily Gibbs
Head of Internal Communications, Financial Times
T: +44 (0) 207 873 3184
E: emily.gibbs@ft.com

US:

Andrew Green
Senior Communications Manager, Financial Times
T: +1-917-551-5093
E: Andrew.green@ft.com

ASIA:

Gemma Terry
Senior Communications Manager, Financial Times
T: +852 2905 5519
E: gemma.terry@ft.com

About the Financial Times

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of 677,000 (Deloitte assured, Q2 2014). Mobile is an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving 60 per cent of subscriber consumption, almost 50 per cent of total traffic and 20 per cent of new digital subscriptions. FT education products now serve two thirds of the world’s top 50 business schools.

About the International Rescue Committee:

A global leader in humanitarian assistance, the International Rescue Committee works in more than 30 countries offering help and hope to refugees and others impacted by violent conflict and disaster. During crises, IRC teams provide health care, shelter, clean water, sanitation, learning programmes for children and special aid for women. As emergencies subside, the IRC stays to revive livelihoods and help shattered communities recover and rebuild. A tireless advocate for the most vulnerable, the IRC is committed to restoring hope, dignity and opportunity.

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