Lets Do a Little More for Haiti
Last night I shared a link to the Red Cross, which is collecting donations via SMS for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. I was very glad to hear that the Red Cross has raised more than $1.2 Million via its SMS campaign in a single day. That’s very impressive considering they did it $10 at a time.
From what I hear, the Red Cross is one of the organizations best prepared to turn donations into action in Haiti and I sent an SMS over to donate $10. That’s not nearly enough.
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel around the world and witness the horrible conditions that too many people have to live in. I can’t imagine what life is like in places like Haiti after a natural disaster is layered on top of the struggles of daily life.
Last night I had dinner with my parents and Haiti was the topic of conversation. My father (who’s made his career in construction) and I looked at a lot of photos and video of the devastation. Besides the horrendous human suffering, we both noticed two things: 1) the buildings in Port au Prince were lacking in basic structural reinforcement. 2) There was no heavy equipment in sight.
My family and I survived the 1989 earthquake. Besides a few broken household items and shaken nerves, we made it through thanks to San Francisco’s relatively solid infrastructure, extensive emergency services and strict building codes. Not everyone was as lucky and of course we still worry when (not if) the next big one will hit. In fact, last weekend I had a panic attack when I was in Las Vegas and I heard there was a major quake in Northern California.
Doubling Down on SMS Donations to the Red Cross
Today I’m going to spend less time working and see if I can use most of my time for the greater good. To start, I’m going to personally match the first $500 of Red Cross SMS donations that members of the mobile tech blogging community donate to the Red Cross. All you need to do is leave a comment below letting us know that you donated at least $10 to the Red Cross via SMS.
To donate via SMS, just send a text message to “90999″ with the word “HAITI” in the message body. You’ll receive a confirmation message confirming that you want to donate $10 to the Red Cross. Reply with the word “Yes” and you’ll get a $10 charge on your next bill.
Don’t forget to leave a comment on this article so I can send another text message to match your donation. If AT&T has a limit on how many times I can send an SMS, I’ll match your donation with a check.
I realize that some of our readers are going through financial difficulties and that it may be impossible for you to do donate to the Red Cross. If you’d still like me us to donate $10 on your behalf just ask and leave a comment with a link to an article on Notebooks.com, GottaBeMobile, Gear Diary, Mobility Minded, Technologizer, WindowsPhoneToughts, Gear Live, Served Raw, SlashGear or GeeksRoom that you’ve found interesting.
UPDATE: Additional Matching Funds are Pouring in!
Several generous individuals and companies are joining us and augmenting the Red Cross SMS campaign donations. Below is a running list of who’s pitching in matching dollars. Remember, in order for them to match the funds, we need to know that $10 donations are being made via SMS. Leave a comment below.
I just received a video message from Scott Jordan, CEO of SCOTTEVEST. In the message he pledged $2,500 in matching funds for the Red Cross SMS campaign. Thank you Scott! Please watch his kind message here:
Judie Lipsett of Gear Diary just let me know that she’d like to match an additional $250 of tech blog readers’ donations. Thank you Judie!
Carly Zekzter of Gear Diary is adding $100 to the matching funds pool so we can match tech blog readers’ donations. Thank you Carly!
Dan Cohen of Gear Diary has graciously added $150 to the matching funds pool. Thank you Dan for your generous donation!
Johan van Mierlo of Mobility Minded just sent me a DM on Twitter offering an additional $100 in matching funds. Thank you Johan!
Andru Edwards, the publisher of Gear Live and video blogger extraordinaire just sent me an email pledging $500 in matching funds. Thank you Andru!
Harry McCracken, editor of Technologizer and a fantastic geek role model, just sent me a message on Twitter and has pledged an additional $250 in matching dollars. Thank you very much Harry!
The team from Ivy Worldwide, which is responsible for doing some great social media outreach for companies like HP, AT&T and others, just emailed us and let us know that they’re pitching in $500 for the SMS matching effort. Thank you Chris, Geoff, Nick and team!
Ed Hansberry of WIndows Phone Thoughts just added an additional $250 to the tech bloggers matching pool. Thank you Ed!
Jason Dunn of Thoughts Media Inc. asked me to add $250 to the pool on his company’s behalf. Thank you Thoughts Media and Jason!
Warner Crocker of GottaBeMobile and his gracious wife Thomasin have added $100 to the SMS matching pool!
Hector Russo of GeeksRoom has added $100 to the matching fund AND shared the plea in Spanish. Thank you Hector!
Amisha, Stacy and Shirley of Served Raw, a new foodie and recipe site have upped the ante another $100. Thank you to Amisha (my wife), Stacy and Shirley, all of whom are fantastic cooks!
Ewdison Then from SlashGear just sent Judie Lipsett a message on Twitter saying that his team would like to add $120 to the matching pool! Thank you to everyone over at SlashGear and R3 Media!
Mike Temporale of Mobile Jaw said he would pitch in $230 to bring the matching fund up to an even $6,000! Thank you Mike!
Helena of Chip Chick is kicking in another $150 for the matching fund. Thank you Helena!
Pete, Chris and Doug of Digital Home Thoughts have kicked in another $250! That brings the Thoughts Media team’s contribution up to $750. Thank you guys!
This means we’re up to $6,400 in matching funds. That’s $12,800 in Red Cross aid if our readers donate $10 each! Please help us reach this goal by giving it to the Red Cross by making your own SMS donation.
BIG Update
My friend Andru Edwards from Gearlive decided to really step up and launch another matching fund for Haiti to augment our efforts! Not only has he put up $500 of his own cash, but he’s raised another $5,150 in matching funds from the GearLive community and friends!
The great thing about Andru’s giveaway is that all of the donors over at GearLive will match your $5 donation to Yele or $10 to the American Red Cross each time someone donates (up to their stated maximum). This means that each of the 13 donors will match your donation, which means your $10 SMS can have a $130 impact!
Together with Andru, we’re up to $11,550 in matching funds! If all of our readers pitch in that’ll be over $18,000 raised for Haiti.
How we can do even more
I’m going to reach out to some friends in the mobile tech industry and ask if they’d be interested in helping us match mobile SMS donations to the Red Cross above my initial $500 limit. The mobile tech community spent a large fortune last week in Las Vegas to celebrate and promote mobile tech. If you or your company has some spare cash to match GBM and Notebooks.com readers’ donations, please contact us. Those who match donations will be recognized prominently on GottaBeMobile.com and Notebooks.com. If you’d rather stay anonymous or donate in someone’s name that’s fine too. You can shoot me an email at xavier@notebooks.com.
We might not be able to raise millions like some organizations can, but we can help the Red Cross do a little more.
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I donated $10 to the Red Cross's efforts through my employer. Thanks for matching it. You rock!
I also donated $10. to the Red Cross. Appreciate your efforts in helping out.
I donated $10 to the red cross via SMS
Great stuff. I donated $10 through SMS. Thanks.
Way to go Xavier!
I donated $10 via SMS and plan on donating more through other channels. Thanks to you and others who are matching our donations!
I donated $20
I donated $10 about an hour ago – keep up the awesome work Xavier
I donated $10 via redcross!, going to donate clothes and harass the significant other into donating tonight! Thank you and everyone for matching the donation! Every little bit absolutely helps!
I just donated to the Red Cross Haiti relief on my mobile phone via SMS. Great idea to extend the reach of the Red Cross fundraising
I just donated $10 to the Red Cross Via SMS! Thanks Xavier.
I just donated $10.
I donated $10, and I'm thrilled to see people like you and your friends stepping up.
Great stuff, Xavier: As usual!!! Either $20 or $30 from me (texting skill isssue).
I donated $10 to the American Red Cross via SMS this afternoon.
You ladies and gentlemen make me proud!
I just want to make a suggestion for everyone's benefit. Depending on the country you reside in, the sms donations can be claimed as a tax deduction up to $10. Amounts greater than that could be denied unless you donate to the branch of the Red Cross in your country.
This is true for the US and Canadian tax laws, so for you techies that have pledged to match funds, please do yourself a favor and record your donation with the Red Cross directly (either by check,debit, or credit card),to get the tax benefit.
Steve
Xavier,
Thanks for taking the initiative. I just sms'd to Red Cross
I just posted your information in a new Google Wave with the efforts being made specific to Portland, OR. Search Haiti Portland in Public Waves to find. Keep up the great work!!
I donated $10 to the American Red Cross via SMS Jan 13, 2010
In for $10 and sharing now.
I just donated $10 to The American Red Cross via SMS. I will also donate $10 to doctorswithoutborders.org
I just donated $30 to the American Red Cross through work. This is great how everyone comes together to help in times of need. Keep up the great work everyone!
I donated $10 to the American Red Cross via SMS. I'm also donating additional funds through Windows Phone Thoughts (I'm the review coordinator there).
I donated $15 to the American Red Cross via thier website
Donated to American Red Cross via SMS, as well as thru online channels. Spreading word re: matching gift opportunity
Your work for Haiti is admirable. I have donated via text to 90999 and have posted requests on Facebook several times to elicit funds from my network. Continuing good luck in your fundraising.
I donated $75 to Partners in Health
Very nice work Xavier. Donated $10 yesterday morning via SMS. My office is also collecting contribution for that. So donating to that too.
i just donated 10.00 to red cross via text
Just donated $10 to the Red Cross via SMS. Thanks!
Donated $10 to Red Cross this morning
I donated $10 to the Red Cross via SMS
I just sent the SMS to the Red Cross.
I just donated $20 to Red Cross for Haiti, this is awesome what you guys are doing!
Donated $10 via SMS.
I put in my $10 this morning!
The texting is so good right now for Haiti that it's raising such well needed money for the people there. Such a sad situation. I wish they could rebuild the whole island for them from top to bottom with no poverty
Was watching AC360 every night and there was one little girl that had a crushed leg and didn't get the help quick enough and passed away so sad. Also all the orphans there now. They had many to begin with and now so much more. I hope every single person in the US donates.
thanks, xavier! my $10 red cross sms donation has been sent
I gave $10 the other night. Thank you for helping others in need. We are all so fortunate and blessed.
Very inspiring Xavier. Incredible job pulling everyone together to make us greater than the sum of our parts.
Oh, and YES, my $10 was just confirmed. Thank you!!
Donated 10.00 to RedCross -NL
I helped with $10
Donated $10 via SMS.
I donated $10 via text to the Red Cross
I donated $78.50 which I was going to use to treat my family to dinner, but simply cooked some left over at home and donated the amount.
I gave $30 via text to the Red Cross, the limit via text.
I donated $10 to the American Red Cross on Jan 18, 2010
Lets do something by donating to the relief victims.
i donated $10 via text message
My wife and I donated $20 via SMS
$10 paid
I've donated $10 dollars to the American Red Cross last week. Hope this counts and that it will get matched. Thank You!
I donated $25 by credit card to Amerian redcross. Hope Haitians get the help on time.
Thanks for doing this. I just donated $10 via SMS.
Donated $10 earlier this week.
I donated $10 to the Red Cross via SMS on Saturday, January 16.
Hi, my wife and I donated $100 on 1/13/10 to the American Red Cross.
Thanks for doing this! I donated $10 to the American Red Cross via SMS on Jan. 13, 2010.
donate
$10 today
Donated $100 through Food for the Hungry a few days ago
Donated $10
Thank you for this initiative- I donated via SMS last week.
I donated $10 yesterday.
Donated $10 via SMS
Donated $10 to Unicef
Donated $50 to PIH Haiti today.
I donated $10 via at&t text message
I donated $10 to the red cross via SMS.
Please matach my $10 donation today sent via text to #90999. thanks
please match my $10 donation given today to haiti via text# 90999. thanks
donated via sms
sorry forgot to say donated $10 to red cross via sms
I donated $10 last week. Thanks for matching.
$20 donated via text message
i donated 10 dollars by texting the red cross
Way to go Xavier! I texted $10 to the American Red Cross the other night!
My Husband and I both donated $10 to RedCross by sms message. Thank you ALL for donating and matching them.
I donated via text message yesterday $10. Thank you for doing this, major props for you!
I donated $10 to the Red Cross via SMS on 01/18/2010
i donated via text!
I have donated $20 to the Red Cross.
Please match my $10 donation given today to haiti via Text# 90999.
Thanks
We donated $10! You guys are awesome!
We donated $10! Thanks!
I donated through text 10 dollars.
Xavier, this is a very commendable effort on your part. Thanks for enlisting the tech community to donate – I've just sent in my $10 donation to the Red Cross via SMS.
I have donated
Great work Xavier! I donated $100 to Hospital Albert Schweitzer located Port-Au-Prince in Haiti.
http://www.hashaiti.org/C1a_w1.html
UD-CEE Contributed 132$ to Salvation Army for Haiti
I donated $100, then won some money at the casino, so I donated some of that. $300 total.
Wow, so much good is happening for Haiti, they are in need of so much, I found another $20,000 in matching funds have been made available to Reiser Relief Inc. for support of short-term relief and long-term recovery efforts in Haiti. http://www.reiserrelief.org/ Donor Matching Begins – Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 11:00 am CST
I donated $50 to American Redcross.
I donated $50 to Operation USA (Haiti Relief).
Just want to spread some words. Here're places that will match your donations:
http://dealnews.com/features/deal…43351.html
(Today Feb 11 is the last day that dealnews match donation to American Redcross.)
American Airline and United Airline
Some more info for other places can be find here:
http://www.donationdoubler.org/haiti.html
and
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:JkucGdqZ8t8…
$10,000 Matching Grant for Haiti – via Razoo March Goodness Online Fundraiser – March 15th to March 30th
http://www.razoo.com/story/Mg2010-Razoo-Nit-Rei…
A $10 Donation Can Make a Difference In Haiti. You to make a difference in the lives of the people in Haiti.
$10,000 Matching Grant for Haiti – via Razoo March Goodness Online Fundraiser – March 15th to March 30th
http://www.razoo.com/story/Mg2010-Razoo-Nit-Rei…
A $10 Donation Can Make a Difference In Haiti. You to make a difference in the lives of the people in Haiti.
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