Sprint Announces Support for Haiti Earthquake Victims

Wireless carrier Sprint announced today that its Sprint Foundation planned making a $50,000 donation to the American Red Cross International Relief Fund to support the victims of the earthquake that recently hit the Republic of Haiti. According to the company, the funds are meant for immediate support, as well as for long-term needs like supplies and technical assistance.

Moreover, the carrier also revealed that Sprint customers could send mobile donations via text messages to a number of short codes for organizations that announced their participation in the relief and recovery efforts supporting this tragedy. The company also said that its customers already started sending messages to donate for the earthquake victims, and that they can still do so.

The codes Sprint mentions are:
- Text “HAITI” to “90999” to donate $10 on behalf of the American Red Cross.
- Text “YELE” to “501501” to donate $5 on behalf of The Yéle Haiti Foundation.
- Text “HAITI” to “20222” to donate $10 on behalf of The William J. Clinton Foundation.
- Text “HAITI” to “85944” to donate $10 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.
- Text “HAITI” to “25383” to donate $5 on behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee.

According to the company, no standard fees apply to these messages apart from the already mentioned sum. Up until now, the carrier's customers already contributed more than $882,000 in mobile-giving donations, Sprint notes, adding that 100 percent of all the money donated this way are given to the appropriate non-profit organizations.

“We have all been impacted by what the people of Haiti have experienced these past days, and our hearts go out to those who have lost family and friends in the disaster,” said Ralph Reid, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Sprint. “This support from the Sprint Foundation will allow American Red Cross relief crews to give valuable assistance where it is needed most.”

In addition, the Sprint Foundation said that it was matching any American Red Cross earthquake-relief donations Sprint staff makes from January 13 through January 31. “The Sprint Foundation will match employee contributions up to a total matched amount of $50,000, potentially increasing the Sprint Foundation’s total contribution to $100,000,” the company added.