iTunes Customers Encouraged to Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

Apple has set up a way for iTunes customers to help Haiti earthquake victims by making a monetary donation to the American Red Cross. Those eager to make a change for the people affected by the natural disaster can access an iTunes page (located here) and donate from $5.00 to $200.00. The donation will be deducted as if the customer has purchased a song, video or app.

By visiting the respective page, customers are presented with several buttons, as shown in the screenshot above. A sum of money is assigned to each button. According to Apple, 100% of all donations go to the American Red Cross.

“On January 12, a series of earthquakes measuring 6.5 to 7.3 on the Richter scale devastated Haiti,” Apple explains. “The American Red Cross is working with its partners in the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, including the Haitian Red Cross, and other partners to assist those affected by this disaster. Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief efforts to help those affected by this earthquake. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources,” Apple’s message ends.

Since the American Red Cross is not provided with your personal information, the organization will be unable to further acknowledge a donation. As a donor, all you get in return is an email receipt from the iTunes Store, which serves as acknowledgment that your donation has been successfully registered. The donation will also appear on your credit-card statement as a transaction with the iTunes Store, according to the company behind the Mac operating system.

By commercializing (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPod models and iTunes Gift Cards, Apple also gives a portion of the purchase price to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa. Statistics show that more than 4,100 people die every day from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, and almost 2,000 children are infected with HIV each day. (PRODUCT) RED-branded products direct up to 50 percent of the gross profits from the sale of those products to the Global Fund. Since its introduction, (PRODUCT) RED has generated more than $130 million for the Global Fund, Apple has revealed.