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 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.
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.
By Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com