For the most part, what we do as PR and communications professionals isn’t changing or saving the world. Many of us represent companies and brands and that are ultimately trying to get consumers to buy more stuff. We work toward that end by writing convincing copy or creating engaging content that compels people to act.
There’s little else more horribly engaging in the world right now than the plight of the citizens of Haiti. People who didn’t have very much to begin with now have lost absolutely everything.
So please act.
- Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 via the Red Cross.
- Text YELE to 501501 to donate $5 via yele.org
- Visit Google’s Haiti Earthquake Relief site to donate to UNICEF or CARE
- Use the ChipIn widget below to donate to Hope for Haiti via Danny Brown’s 12for12K effort
Update: A few other resources:
Partners in Health
Haiti Reconstruction
Also check with your local community for opportunities to donate via local organizations.
For more ways to donate, see http://jilliancyork.com/2010/01/13/got-20-send-it-to-haiti/
Thanks for the link to additional resources, Ari.
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I applaud the “time out” to think of Haiti, and, it is hard to set aside one’s communication hat in analyzing what is happening. Lots has been said about the text campaign – I’ll pick a different observation. I went to the Red Cross site to donate, and was asked if I wanted to use my Amazon account to complete the donation. I said yes with pleasure – it saved me the time of rummaging out my Red Cross login and updating my card expiration date, etc etc. My donation was quickly completed on a co-branded page through Amazon’s servers, and I got thank you notes from both organizations within 1 hour.
Amazon was the last thing on my mind when thinking about Haiti, and yet, my donation reminded me of how much I like their products, and how much I trust the brand. Their logo was a nice sign of comfort and familiarity in a time of stress. It was a great brand awareness moment, it helped the Red Cross and Haiti, and saved me some time in doing the right thing. Good for Amazon – and all those other companies that have figured out how to do good, and do well, all at the same time.
I did the “Text HAITI to 90999″ to donate to the Red Cross via my phone bill. I too am grateful that quick-thinking, quick-acting organizations have come together to make it as simple as possible for people to help. Time and motivation are of the essence now.
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