Gates Foundation pledges $3 million for aid to tsunami victims

[Nomad559]

Gates Foundation pledges $3 million for aid to tsunami victims
Amazon.com raises another $3.5 million

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $3 million and Amazon.com has raised more than $3.5 million in online donations to aid South Asian countries devastated by tsunamis.

Millions of U.S. dollars were flowing to relief agencies around the world to supply food, water, shelter and health care to the region. Tens of thousands of people were killed in the disaster that struck a dozen countries from Thailand to Somalia. Countless thousands more were injured and displaced.

Microsoft's company offices in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India are working with relief organizations, a spokeswoman said. The company also is encouraging employees to contribute. Under an existing program, Microsoft matches charitable donations by its U.S. employees.

Online bookseller Amazon.com began collecting donations for the American Red Cross on its Web site almost immediately, said company spokesman Craig Berman. By Wednesday evening, there had been 60,000 online donations totaling $3.5 million.

[arcos]

1. Amazon is now at over $7 million, with more than 100,000 donations...

It just shows how amazingly fast the amount is increasing :wow:

[autorank]

2. Thats about 9%of the US Gov total and much larger percent of

the US gift (as opposed to "line of credit"). Nice post!