The contribution will help fund emergency relief efforts in Indonesia, such as the distribution of materials shown above and more.

Westport, CT (June 20, 2006) — Save the Children announced today a $500,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support emergency relief efforts in Java following the devastating earthquake that hit the region on May 27.

"Thousands of children in Indonesia have been greatly affected as a result of this earthquake. They have lost their homes, their education has been interrupted and their sense of normalcy knocked out of balance," said Charles F. MacCormack, President and CEO, Save the Children. "Once again, we sincerely thank the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their generous contribution. This will allow us to meet the immediate needs of children and families in Indonesia and help them recover during this difficult time."

More than 40,000 children were affected by the earthquake. Even more have been displaced due to a looming volcano eruption from Java's Mount Merapi.

In the immediate aftermath of the devastation, Save the Children has been on the ground focusing on providing shelter to the displaced children and families, and attending to the emotional needs of children by providing play kits and designating safe play areas. Because the earthquake happened around the same time students in Java were preparing to take their end-of-year final exams, Save the Children has also committed to distributing school supplies for teachers and students, and classroom tents so that their education may continue.

In December of 2005 the foundation gave a $60 Million grant to Save the Children’s Saving Newborn Lives global initiative. This generous contribution to earthquake relief efforts from the foundation puts Save the Children significantly closer to reaching its goal of raising $3 million in emergency relief funds that will be needed to continue to help communities recover in the next three to six months.

Learn more about Save the Children's Indonesian earthquake response