Monday, January 18, 2010

Red Cross text donations pass $21M

Red Cross started an electronic campaign to raise money for the earthquake survivors shortly after the quake hit Haiti. In all of 2009, only 4 million dollars was raised by similar texting fundraisers. The texting fundraiser for Haiti raised 3 million dollars in the first 24 hours of its campaign and has topped 21 million on Sunday night. The Red Cross got its message out through Twitter, Facebook and other online media. The NFL games on Sundays also sponsored the fundraiser by showing a commercial encouraging people to text a donation to the Red Cross. People text "Haiti" to the number 90999. They will then recieve a text back with donation verifications which will then be added to their phone bill at the end of the month. Apple has also helped the cause. It is now possible to donate up to $50 on itunes to the Red Cross. Also, Apple applications designers got together and decided to donate all of they money that they made in one day from selling apps to the Red Cross. Money is continuing to pour in, but many people have yet to be saved.


I think this is just astounding. Even with the economy in a slump I think that it is inspiring that people are coming together to do something about the disaster in Haiti. Not everyone can go to Haiti to help search for survivors, but everyone can donate 1 dollar to the Red Cross to help buy food, water, and supplies for the people down in Haiti who are without homes and resources. This in fact has inspired me to donate which I will do right now.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/18/redcross.texts/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

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