Apple donates $1M to Kerala flood relief efforts

Posted:
in General Discussion edited August 2018
After opening iTunes' donation mechanism earlier this week to help victims of the Kerala floods in India, Apple on Saturday pledged 70,000,000 Indian Rupees (about $1 million) to support Mercy Corps efforts in the region.




Apple in a statement to Indian news wire service Indo Asian News Service (via the Khaleej Times) said it is "heartbroken" by the Kerala floods that claimed hundreds of lives and displaced millions.

"We're heartbroken by the catastrophic flooding in Kerala. Apple is donating Rs 7 crore to support the life saving work Mercy Corps India and the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund are undertaking to support survivors, help those who have been displaced and rebuild homes and schools," Apple said.

The company went on to note the activation of its donation service, allowing customers to contribute to ongoing Mercy Corps efforts through a dedicated button in iTunes and the App Store.

As usual, users can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200, with the full amount going directly to the humanitarian aid group.

Flooding in the Indian state began in June with the onset of unusually heavy monsoon rains. The unrelenting downpours continued until this week, leaving some 400 people dead and more than a million displaced, according to the latest statistics reported by BBC News. The region remains in dire straits even as floodwaters subside, with residents returning from shelters to find deadly snakes, scorpions and other wildlife now inhabiting their homes.

Apple regularly uses iTunes and the App Store to process donations for natural disasters, both in the U.S. and beyond. Most recently, the company activated the mechanism for California's wildfires this month.

Apple has in the past made direct contributions to relief efforts including a $2 million donation for Hurricane Harvey relief and $1 million each for last year's Southern California wildfires and Mexico City earthquake. The iPhone maker also donated $1 million to a Chinese NGO after heavy rains caused massive flooding along the Yangtze river in 2016.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 19
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member
    Didn’t we just have extensive flooding in the US?
    6502tallest skil
  • Reply 2 of 19
    racerhomie3racerhomie3 Posts: 1,264member
    Thank You Apple. Wish you all the best.
  • Reply 3 of 19
    racerhomie3racerhomie3 Posts: 1,264member
    Didn’t we just have extensive flooding in the US?
    The US has much more resources than India. Apple helps with natural disasters all over the globe.
    spice-boy
  • Reply 4 of 19
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    Didn’t we just have extensive flooding in the US?
    You are aware a smaller percentage of Apple income is now made in the US than the rest of the world? Besides, what a terrible thing to come in with. Surprised by you, Spam.
    edited August 2018 spice-boy
  • Reply 5 of 19
    racerhomie3racerhomie3 Posts: 1,264member
    The guy on the left looks like Niley Patel. Yikes.
  • Reply 6 of 19
    irelandireland Posts: 17,798member
    The guy on the left looks like Niley Patel. Yikes.
    Why yikes?
    spice-boy
  • Reply 7 of 19
    ireland said:
    The guy on the left looks like Niley Patel. Yikes.
    Why yikes?
    His imposter lives in India.
  • Reply 8 of 19
    The company went on to note the activation of its donation service, allowing customers to contribute to ongoing Mercy Corps efforts through a dedicated button in iTunes and the App Store.

    As usual, users can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200, with the full amount going directly to the humanitarian aid group.


    Apple's efforts and intentions are appreciated -- its donation will, likely act as an incentive to people to donate to this cause or other causes of their choice.

    However, I was unable to find the referenced donation service or buttons by visiting/searching iTunes or the App Store.  Eventually, I found the page by following the link in [original page of] this article --> Link to another AI Article --> Donation Button Link --> Mercy Corps Page in iTunes Store containing Donation Buttons.

    This process appears to be a lot more opaque and involved than it needs to be.

    Why couldn't Apple:
    1. Setup a separate category in the App Store/iTunes for donations to special causes and charities 
    2. Allow payment through ApplePay
    3. Maybe even keep running totals ala GoFundMe
    edited August 2018 anantksundaram
  • Reply 9 of 19
    The company went on to note the activation of its donation service, allowing customers to contribute to ongoing Mercy Corps efforts through a dedicated button in iTunes and the App Store.

    As usual, users can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200, with the full amount going directly to the humanitarian aid group.


    Apple's efforts and intentions are appreciated -- its donation will, likely act as an incentive to people to donate to this cause or other causes of their choice.

    However, I was unable to find the referenced donation service or buttons by visiting/searching iTunes or the App Store.  Eventually, I found the page by following the link in [original page of] this article --> Link to another AI Article --> Donation Button Link --> Mercy Corps Page in iTunes Store containing Donation Buttons.

    This process appears to be a lot more opaque and involved than it needs to be.

    Why couldn't Apple:
    1. Setup a separate category in the App Store/iTunes for donations to special causes and charities 
    2. Allow payment through ApplePay
    3. Maybe even keep running totals ala GoFundMe
    Agreed. I finally ended donating directly to the Indian Red Cross. (Not easy either). 
  • Reply 10 of 19
    nunzynunzy Posts: 662member
    One million is nothing to Apple. But the PR is priceless.
    6502
  • Reply 11 of 19
    jcs2305jcs2305 Posts: 1,336member
    nunzy said:
    One million is nothing to Apple. But the PR is priceless.
    Way to cheapen a nice gesture by Apple. Cheerleader #1 strikes again...
    nunzySolifastasleep
  • Reply 12 of 19
    racerhomie3racerhomie3 Posts: 1,264member
    nunzy said:
    One million is nothing to Apple. But the PR is priceless.
    1 million is nothing to any government.
    nunzy
  • Reply 13 of 19
    spice-boyspice-boy Posts: 1,450member
    Didn’t we just have extensive flooding in the US?
    yes and your point is?
    Soli
  • Reply 14 of 19
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,801member
    spice-boy said:
    Didn’t we just have extensive flooding in the US?
    yes and your point is?
    I assume he's probably getting at Apple didn't donate to that. I would think Apple would donate to Hawaii at some point. 
    edited August 2018
  • Reply 15 of 19
    65026502 Posts: 380member
    ireland said:
    Didn’t we just have extensive flooding in the US?
    You are aware a smaller percentage of Apple income is now made in the US than the rest of the world? Besides, what a terrible thing to come in with. Surprised by you, Spam.
    You are aware Apple gets nearly half its revenue from the US and gets more revenue from the US than any other country by far. Its revenue from India is nearly non-existant since India won't allow phones not made in India to be sold in India. What a concept.

    SpamSandwich had a valid point (certainly not, as you say, a terrible thing to come in with). I'm sure Apple's donation was politically motivated as well as it struggles to get market share there. Apple is not the UN. There are natural disasters everywhere all the time, Apple can't make a $1M+ donation to all of them.
    edited August 2018 tallest skil
  • Reply 16 of 19
    Gosh! What a very generous gesture by a $1 Trillion company. And to think, the Indian government was causing Apple trouble recently too. Wait! They give more to China. That market must be worth more to them then.
  • Reply 17 of 19
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,801member
    GHammer said:
    Gosh! What a very generous gesture by a $1 Trillion company. And to think, the Indian government was causing Apple trouble recently too. Wait! They give more to China. That market must be worth more to them then.
    You know...they could have donated....NOTHING! Just another thankless jerk...
  • Reply 18 of 19
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,273member
    Expect a new campaign to help Hawaii and other disasters the Red Cross is assisting with soon. Those of us lucky enough to have more than the bare minimum needed for survival have, IMO, a responsibility to help out those who have had such things taken away from them.
    montrosemacs
  • Reply 19 of 19
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 5,801member
    GHammer said:
    Gosh! What a very generous gesture by a $1 Trillion company. And to think, the Indian government was causing Apple trouble recently too. Wait! They give more to China. That market must be worth more to them then.
    Also, a $1 Trillion company doesn't mean they have $1 Trillion in cash. I don't know why people still think this. They have approximately 25% of that actually. 
This discussion has been closed.