Texting raises $24M for Haiti earthquake relief

Instant mobile donations gaining popularity

There has been a deluge of donations to Haiti relief efforts via texting. The American Red Cross has received $22 million of roughly $103 million total by text message.

Lisa Powell/Staff photographer There has been a deluge of donations to Haiti relief efforts via texting. The American Red Cross has received $22 million of roughly $103 million total by text message.

ENLARGE PHOTO

WPAFB likely to avoid cuts from defense spending plan
7:23 p.m.
Antioch College's free tuition offer attracts 2,500
6:45 p.m.
Hopes remain for more jobs at tech development
6:29 p.m.
Salt truck overturns on icy road
6:24 p.m.
Cold snap freezes Miami Valley throughout day
6:11 p.m.
> More headlines

By Jim DeBrosse, Staff Writer Updated 7:07 AM Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Often viewed by adults as a mindless diversion for teenagers, texting is proving its worth as a fundraising tool as millions of Americans text donations for Haiti relief over their cell phones.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, the American Red Cross had received more than $24 million in relief contributions texted from cell phones.

Texting the word “Haiti” to 90999 contributes $10 to the Red Cross effort. About $580,000 (or 2.4 percent of the total) has come from Ohioans, said American Red Cross spokeswoman Abi Weaver.

The “Texting to Help” accounts for about 20 percent of the $112 million in Red Cross pledges collected as of Monday night, she said.

The instant donations are posted to donors’ cell phone bills.

The texting program has gotten a push from the White House and the National Football League. During the NFL playoff games this past weekend, text donations streamed in at a rate of $500,000 an hour, Red Cross officials said.

But the Federal Communications Commission is advising donors to be careful about other relief organizations. Scammers are soliciting contributions through e-mails and text messages that direct donors to what look like legitimate Web sites.

The FCC advises donors to go directly to well-known charity Web sites or to check out new charities closely. Guidestar (www.guidestar.org) and Charity Navigator (www.charity navigator.org) rate charities according to their effectiveness.