Text "Haiti" to 90999.

[LeftyFingerPop]

$10.

Do it.

[uppityperson]

1. who does the money go to? Won't donate anything until I find out. Thanks.

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. Red Cross. n/t

[uppityperson]

7. Please don't do this, donate to International Red Cross, NOT American red crosw

Seriously, ARC is known for their massive fundraising, slowness, cpr classes but they are NOT good ones to donate to for emergencies like this. IRC is MUCH better, International Red Cross. http://www.icrc.org/

Yes, donating to ARC this way is easy, but even they say the money may be kept for future issues, NOT for Haitian help.

Take the extra step and donate where it will do good http://www.icrc.org/

[northzax]

15. Part and parcel, honestly

But if you really want to make a difference NOW, donate by credit card. The text system won't actually give money until you pay your bill. Next month. (you didn't think AT&T, Sprint and Verizon were advancing the money to anyone now, right?) qi did the text thing for Yele (yes, I know their issues) for symbolic purposes and made a direct donation online to my organizations of choice (in my case MercyCorps and DwB)

[uppityperson]

20. IRC and ARC are not the same group. THAT is a big problem.

I didn't understand, have donated a lot to ARC, but over the yrs enough has come out to show that they are experts at fundraising, but really shitty at spending those raised funds on those there were raised for. Over and over and over.

I want to make a difference NOW, and will donate to an organization that will use my money for people in Haiti, not for more fundraising and staff salaries.

[northzax]

27. Yes, I know they aren't the same

And yes, the arc especially under Liddy Dole, had some issues with comingling donations that people expected to be earmarked for a particular program. They've actually corrected those issues, for the record.

[uppityperson]

33. Do you have info about that? I would like to see it, would like to see what

they've done to correct their problems. Thanks

[saged52]

21. yes, that is exactly what I heard last night on one of MSNBC shows -

your texted donation will arrive in about 90 days - that is why we opted to donate to DWD - a 4 star charity according to charitynavigator.

[S n o w b a l l]

26. They'll need that money in 90 days just as much

as they need it right now. Maybe even more so to rebuild. I'm sure there's money flooding in from many sources to help out immediately. This is just one way to donate and any way is a good way.

[northzax]

29. True, but it is billed as money to help NOW

Which is, frankly, misleading in my opinion.

[backscatter712]

36. IIRC, cell phone companies were agreeing to send charity money from these texts now.

Normally, it would take 90 days, but the telcos are making special arrangements with the Red Cross to get them the money now, and they'll settle the bills later.

[uppityperson]

38. That would be wonderful if they did that. If they are, that is different.

I had heard otherwise, but would be glad if they did.

I am so outspoken about donating because I have been involved with both giving and volunteering and have seen organizations that waste time and money and some that don't. Those that do I put on the same level as other scammers.

I'd like to see them send on the money now.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. Do it and then K&R this thread

:thumbsup:

[uppityperson]

4. who does the money go to? Won't donate anything until I find out. Thanks.

If it is ARC, don't do it, donate to IRC instead.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. info for you --

So, who knew you could provide medical treatment, water or food to Haiti earthquake victims just by sending a text message from a cell phone?

Apparently, a whole lot of people, thanks to appeals on Web sites ranging from the White House blog to the social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

The American Red Cross has raised more than $8 million for earthquake relief from people sending text messages, according to the White House.

"It doesn't really surprise me that people would jump into the idea," said Lynda Nicely of West Allis, who texted a donation to the Red Cross from her LG enV phone. Verizon Wireless will add the cost to her bill.

Nicely, a public relations professional who sometimes volunteers for the Red Cross, The Women's Center in Waukesha and other causes, said she usually donates time rather than money to organizations. But television images of suffering Haitians prompted her to pull out her phone.


more at link:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/81826187.html

[uppityperson]

9. They do massive fundraising but do not spend the money right. seriously, go to International RC

Just because it is easy to donate does not mean it is a good thing to do. Speaking from experience with ARC, they are really good at fund raising and not so good at using those funds properly.

ARC gives this option on their website, do they do so with the cell phone thing? Why not donate to those who are gong there, International Red Cross?

Haiti Relief and Development

On January 12, a series of earthquakes measuring 6.5 to 7.3 on the Richter scale devastated Haiti. The American Red Cross is working with its partners in the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, including the Haitian Red Cross, and other partners to assist those affected by this disaster.

Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief and recovery efforts to help those people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources and recovery.

[S n o w b a l l]

12. Thank you, Tuesday...

There's always someone that pisses on an effort to do something good. It's an easy, quick way for people to donate. I donated that way. And I trust they'll get the money.

[uppityperson]

13. Why do you trust an organization that has shown over and over it mismanages funds?

Why NOT go with the one that spends more of its money on the recipients faster? If wanting my donations to go to the recipients means I am pissing on an effort to do some good, then you guys have a problem. IS my trying to do some good by advocating for organizations that spend large amounts of their money on the recipients quickly, like RED CROSS international wrong? I am trying to do something good, help those who need it.

I used to trust ARC, now I don't. I do trust IRC. Donate as much as you can, but please, donate it through reputable organizations.

[S n o w b a l l]

16. Do they have an easy way to donate?

Or a way to text your donation? Or do you have to enter your credit card and all your other personal information? You didn't post a link.

If this way is getting people who otherwise wouldn't donate because of the hassle, then I'm all for it.

[uppityperson]

18. Just because it is easy does not make it right. Don't waste your money but spend it right.

www.irc.org/

Check out this article, please, about ARC. http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0925-28.htm

[mkultra]

8. if your that picky,maybe you shoudl check it out yourself.

meanwhile, people are starving. whatever YOU do, just do it.

[uppityperson]

10. oh bs. Here, try this, send me money and I'll help out. No, I prefer my donations to actually HELP

those they are intended to and have found anonymous "donate here" to be suspicious. I've also found ARC misusing moneys they raise, and NOT sending them to the intended recipients.

If wanting my donation to go to a decent place makes me "picky", then wtf?

[mkultra]

31. yes, this news is plastered all over

[uppityperson]

32. ARC has a HUGE advertising fundraising budget, true. You do realize how this text thing works?

Text numbers and when your next phone bill comes, you pay then when the phone company cashes your payment they send it on to ARC.

For me, if I were to do this today, my next billing cycle ends in almost a month. I have several weeks after that to pay my bill. The money I "donate" today doesn't actually get to ARC for 2 months.

I'd rather donate today and give the money today and have them have the money available today, not in 2 months.

However, getting people to donate over the long haul, not just for emergencies, is always a difficult thing.

[mkultra]

34. you know, you do whatever you need to do

the point is to get mobilized and donate. Most people who push this(like me) have already donated through other mechanisms. We are usually keenly aware of whats real and what isn't and we are simply trying to get those with cold feet moving.


This is a simply and easy way for people who don't normally donate to get it done. This isn't the first time ACR has used this method and it was announced by the WH so i was surprised when you didn't know what was going on.

[mkultra]

5. did it.

[Pirate Smile]

11. Already did it. Easiest way to give ever.

This is definitely how a lot of fundraising is going to be done from now on.

[LeftyFingerPop]

14. .

[LeftyFingerPop]

17. So who is the fuck that unreced this?

[uppityperson]

19. I did because ARC spends MILLIONS on fundraising and has real issues spending it on those

it is supposed to be for. Just because it is easy to give money does NOT mean that money will be spent on those you are donating it for. This is one of those instances.

Here, for starts.
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0925-28.htm

[LeftyFingerPop]

22. Ok.

A post that implores people to contribute quickly to get money to Haiti, and you unrec it.

Just because it is not your charity of choice?

Go to the fridge and get a fucking baloney sandwich or something.

[uppityperson]

23. because the money won't get to Arc for 90 days and never to the people

Read the rest of the thread since I obviously need a sandwich. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7477963&mesg_id=7478200

see, won't get there FOR 90 DAYS. That is in NO WAY "quickly get money to Haiti". Read about ARC fraud and wastage and perhaps you may notice that very very very very very little of the money they raise actually EVER gets to the people who need it.

Yes, this is a scam and I unrecced it. So sorry if unreccing a scam upsets you.

[saged52]

24. I was never confident the $ we donated to RC for the Katrina Victims

ever went to the Katrina vicitms - that is why I did some research prior to our dontations this time -

[uppityperson]

25. I WAS confident it would go there, and found out later it didn't. They lied.

Thank you for doing research before donating. I very well understand the desire to do something NOW to help NOW but this is not the way to accomplish that.

[saged52]

28. also found many charities that garnered a 4 star rating -

RC only got a 3 star - and I am disappointed that RC seems to be 'advertising' on all of our local channels; not that RC doesn't do great things in certain instances - I just don't believe this is one of them -

[Warpy]

30. It's better than nothing

but if you can give a minimum of $15, you might want to look over other options like Doctors Without Borders, Unicef, Save the Children, and many charities with a better track record than the ARC.

Just sayin. Do what you can. If you can do more than ten, consider other options.

[backscatter712]

35. Done. More than happy to give to the Red Cross. n/t

[NightWatcher]

37. people here love to trash the Red Cross, but they helped me greatly

when Ivan destroyed my in-laws place and we were hungry with no water or power.