Corporate Leaders Tout Philanthropy's Benefits Amid Grim Financial News

Mr. Litow said IBM was expanding and fine tuning its pro-bono consulting program.

Moody’s recently started an afternoon of service to enable its employees to volunteer as part of a team in their local communities, according to Frances G. Laserson, the foundation’s president.

Food and Shelter
GE announced at the end of last year that it would steer more money in 2009 to those directly affected by the economic crisis. The company plans to earmark the money it gives to the United Way this year (about $10.5-million) for charities that provide food and shelter. It will also set aside $1.5-million for housing and hunger issues in 15 countries where it has workers, according to Mr. Corcoran.