Text Messages Raise Over $3 Million For Haiti Residents
Posted by Media Outrage on January 14th, 2010
The masses felt Haiti’s pain yesterday and today. They were told to text message 501501 and by doing so, $5 would be added to their monthly phone bill. Well anyway, the masses responded in a huge way, raising over $3 million for the residents of Haiti.
Via MSNBC:
Americans are turning to their cell phones to donate money via text message for Haitian relief efforts, pledging more than $3 million so far to organizations like the American Red Cross and Yele Haiti foundation.
“All mobile texters in the United States have contributed $3 million to the Red Cross Haiti earthquake relief effort,” said Jeffrey Nelson, Verizon Wireless spokesman, who called it “the largest outpouring of charitable support by texting in history — by far.”
Nelson said that as of early Thursday, customers of Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, have pledged more than $1 million. AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile are also backing the text-messaging donation campaign.
Previous donating-via-text message efforts raised $400,000 after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and $200,000 after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami by all wireless customers in the U.S., Nelson said.
The mobile giving effort is organized by the mGive Foundation, as well as the Mobile Giving Foundation, which are coordinating with wireless carriers. In the Red Cross’ case, phone users can text the word “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10,” and when prompted, hit “YES” to confirm the donation.
The donation is added to the cell user’s bill, and receipts are available.
Standard text-messaging rates “may apply” in AT&T’s case, the company said yesterday. Sprint said customers who are not covered by text-messaging plans may be charged, but many are covered by the company’s unlimited text messaging plan or its $5-a-month plan for 300 messages.
“If a customer does not use any of these options, standard text messaging charges will apply, but they can switch to an unlimited plan” or text message plan “at anytime without extending their contract,” said a Sprint spokeswoman.
Verizon Wireless said customers donating to the Red Cross will not be charged “for those texts… It’s a way we support non-profits who are tipping their toes into the mobile giving water,” said Nelson.
Amanda Ginther, T-Mobile spokeswoman, said the text messages “will not draw down on a messaging plan, and customers without a messaging plan, will not be charged for the text.”
The mobile donation campaign, mentioned on the White House’s blog has also lent a boost to the activity.
Another key organization that has been getting endorsements for the text-message donations is the Yele Haiti foundation, started by Wyclef Jean, a member of the now-defunct Fugees musical group.
Jean has been urging people to help by donating $5 to the Yele charity, and send a phone text-message to 501501 to contribute. The foundation’s Web site had heavy traffic all day Wednesday, with many users unable to access it.
T-Mobile is also supporting free text messages for donations to the Yele foundation, calling Jean one of the company’s “myTouch (Android phone) partners … again 100 percent of the donations are passed directly to the nonprofit,” said Ginther.
Even Twitter co-founder Biz Stone suggested the mobile donation route to the Red Cross and to Yele on Twitter’s blog, saying it is among “a few simple but effective ways to help (that) have emerged.”
Mediaoutrage- Now that’s beautiful and very news worthy! Nothing like seeing people demonstrate real humanity and love.
January 14th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
That is really beautiful , the whole world should be that way, i am loving this, i wish they would of done that for katrina victims so fast also. wow
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ucanb2 Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I am with you on that one LowRidaz… we should have had a better response time for Katrina.
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lilkunta (ucanb2) Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
@ucanb2:
I think bc Katrina happened in the US whee there is a government & infrastructure, we all thought the US would take care of its own citizens.
Also it is 2010 vd 2004. More ppl have mobile phones now than in 04.
Im glad so many are helping, there is a worldwide recession but ppl are still being charitable.
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January 14th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
GOOD DEAL!
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January 14th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Fantastic, this show that people are willing to help even when time are hard.
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January 14th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
The response is awesome and I too wish it would have been this fast with Katrina.
I had family in New Orleans(elderly aunt and uncle) when Katrina hit but we found them through the Red Cross, after they had been re-located to Texas, and went to get them, but just like Lilkunta said that was a 2004 and things are different now.
I am donating through my carrier AT&T. My heart goes out to the people of Haiti. This is truly a horrific situation.
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January 14th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Wonderful!
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January 14th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
that’s amazing
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January 14th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
That’s awesome!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2010/01/a_different_kind_of_giveaway/comment-page-247/#comment-709968
For each comment, she’ll donate 10 cents and pick two random commenters and donate $500 each in their name.
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January 14th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
[...] Red Cross texting campaign [...]
January 15th, 2010 at 3:29 am
That’s very good. Hope it continues.
By the way, Katrina happened in 2005.
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January 15th, 2010 at 3:54 am
very nice
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January 15th, 2010 at 5:49 am
I just pray that the people of Haiti actually see this money.
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January 15th, 2010 at 6:40 am
Even though i my cash funds are low at the end of the day i have a roof over my head. I felt it was my duty to pledge 5 and i will txt a few more times cause an extra five on the bill is nothing compared to what these ppl are going thru. I pray to GOD that the money will be utilize to all men women and children of haiti may GOD bless them and the rest of the world
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