The United Nations officially declared a famine in East Africa. Verizon Wireless has quickly implemented a mobile giving program for customers looking for a simple way to contribute to relief efforts in East Africa. The company said today that customers can use their mobile phones to make $10 donations to a variety of nonprofit organizations responding to the famine and the millions of people in need of food aid – including UNICEF, World Vision and International Rescue Committee.
“When the U.N. declared a famine in East Africa, we knew that our innovative technology could help make a difference. We quickly took action and set up this mobile giving campaign, offering our customers an easy and secure way to get involved in the relief efforts,” said Marquett Smith, vice president of corporate communications at Verizon Wireless.
Customers can choose from three different nonprofit organizations and make $10 donations by sending a text message. Donating is easy – customers simply text the specific word to the organization’s designated short code:
International Rescue Committee: Text “AFRICA” to 25383
UNICEF: Text “FOOD” to 864233
World Vision: Text “4AFRICA” to 20222
International Medical Corps: Text “AFRICA” to 80888
Plan International USA: Text “PLAN” to 85944
Samaritan’s Purse: Text “FOOD” to 80888
GlobalGiving: Text “GIVE AID” to 80888
World Food Program USA: Text “AID” to 27722
Feed My Starving Children: Text “MEALS” to 80000
CHF International: Text “PROGRESS” to 50555
Verizon Wireless always waives text-messaging fees for disaster relief, so text messages are free when used to make donations to any of these organizations, and 100 percent of each $10 donation goes to the relief organization. For Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills, the $10 donations will appear on the next regular monthly bill. For customers using the company’s prepaid services, the $10 donation will be taken from customers’ prepaid balances.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
