Google donates $11.5 million to International Justice Mission, the Polaris Project to fight slavery

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tech giant Google is donating $11.5 million to organizations fighting to end the slavery of 27 million people around the world.

It is believed to be the largest corporate grant ever devoted to the intervention and rescue of people being held, forced to work or provide sex against their will.

Google made the announcement Wednesday as part of its $40 million, end-of-year charitable donations. In total, the tech company donated more than $100 million in 2011.

Anti-slavery organizations International Justice Mission, the Polaris Project and Slavery Footprint will receive the bulk of the latest grant.

Much of their work will be focused on helping people being forced to work against their will or trafficked in India, as well as raising awareness about the issue here in the U.S.