The John Deere Foundation, the main philanthropic organization of Deere & Company, has approved a grant of $1 million to the Red Cross organization to support relief efforts in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami that devastated portions of that country.

In addition, the John Deere Foundation will match Deere employee contributions to the Japan relief effort up to an additional $500,000.

“The tragic events in Japan have profoundly affected people around the world,” says Samuel R. Allen, chairman and chief executive officer, Deere & Company. “We are deeply saddened when a disaster of this magnitude causes so much destruction and loss of life. The support of the John Deere Foundation will assist the Red Cross as it helps the Japanese people during this difficult recovery.”

The John Deere Foundation support announced today is in addition to annual contributions of $250,000 each that the Foundation makes to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund and the International Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.