Apple restarts iTunes Red Cross donations to benefit Nepal earthquake recovery
In the aftermath of a series of earthquakes which have left more than 3,000 dead in Nepal, Apple has again begun soliciting donations for the American Red Cross through the iTunes Store.
By visiting a special iTunes page, customers can automatically donate to the Red Cross in denominations of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $200. Apple will pass 100 percent of the proceeds through, though they will not share contributors' personal information.
According to the page, contributions "will enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters."
A major earthquake struck Nepal on Saturday, and powerful aftershocks have continued to rock the small nation. The earthquake leveled huge portions of Nepalese cities, reducing numerous ancient ruins to dust and triggering avalanches on Mt. Everest.
The latest reports from Kathmandu put the death toll at 3,617.
Apple began accepting donations through iTunes for the Haitian earthquake in 2010, then opened the system again after the Japanese tsunami in 2011, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
By visiting a special iTunes page, customers can automatically donate to the Red Cross in denominations of $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $200. Apple will pass 100 percent of the proceeds through, though they will not share contributors' personal information.
According to the page, contributions "will enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters."
A major earthquake struck Nepal on Saturday, and powerful aftershocks have continued to rock the small nation. The earthquake leveled huge portions of Nepalese cities, reducing numerous ancient ruins to dust and triggering avalanches on Mt. Everest.
The latest reports from Kathmandu put the death toll at 3,617.
Apple began accepting donations through iTunes for the Haitian earthquake in 2010, then opened the system again after the Japanese tsunami in 2011, Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
Comments
I heard Apple deliberately delayed their Red Cross donations in order to help the Nepal earthquake recovery...
This is not the way I heard it.
I heard Apple deliberately delayed their Red Cross donations in order to help the Nepal earthquake recovery...
Really? You felt that an article about an event in which thousands of people lost their lives was the place for you to act like a smug jerk?
Really? You felt that an article about an event in which thousands of people lost their lives was the place for you to act like a smug jerk?
Really? You think when a tragedy occurs its ok to put your head down and pretend the Red Cross is benevolent organization that helps people with the money it steals receives?
I can see why you have the word Johnson as your name.
TBH this thread isn't really one that should be about Apple anyway, so yeah smug comments about them aren't really appropriate IMHO tho I don't think GTR really meant anything by it. It's just his style. IMO the goal should be help for those in Nepal so whatever gets us there.
After my mother had a fire in her house the Red Cross were the third ones there after the firefighters, and insurance adjusters. They came with blankets, water, and other supplies. They quickly got her a hotel room, and provided her with the necessary toiletries. So yes they actually do help in time of need.
I'm glad to hear that they do help sometimes. I was in an impromptu self-organized group of volunteers in New York following September 11th 2001, and at that time the Red Cross seemed pretty useless, but to their credit, some of the Red Cross people did end up joining up with us because according to them we were more organized and effective. I guess they did distribute some of the massive donations they received to families in need at some point later on, but only a fraction (which they later defended as essentially saving the rest for a rainy day), and they seemed to be doing almost nothing for the first few weeks, while there was plenty to be done. The Red Cross' efforts during Hurricane Sandy were also widely criticized, but I wasn't as involved with that so I can only say what I've heard and read in that case.
http://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disaster
Hopefully they're more effective in other parts of the world. If anybody knows of other organizations with a similar mission but better organized, I'd be interested to hear about them.
There is also Care.org (www.care.org) for those who do not want to contribute via the Red Cross.
If you don't want to donate to the Red Cross you can view this web page that lists 7 vetted charities working to provide aid for this disaster.
http://ht.ly/M7eJc
FYI: Personally, I used the iTunes link
View this page to see the Red Cross expense and program donations
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277