Millions raised in one day to help victims of earthquake.
Chicagoans continue to their outpour of support of the victims of Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
Around the city, donors raising nearly $3 million in one day.
Several Chicago media outlets partnered with north suburban outsource firm Hewitt Associates and the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago to raise money to send much-needed support to victims in Haiti. Roughly 12,000 calls were received in this one-day period for donations.
Donors gave by way of phone, Internet and text messaging. And when it was all done $2.9 million had been raised. The money will be used to provide shelter services, food and medical care to victims, the Red Cross said.
The tally is expected to increase once mail-in donations are accounted for.
“The outpouring of support by the people of Chicago today showed enormous compassion for the people of Haiti,” said Francesca Maher, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. “We are also grateful for the generous support of Hewitt Associates, our corporate partners and every person who called in or went online to make a donation. The support of the media outlets and the way they came together completely united for this important cause was a very powerful sight to witness.”
According to the American Red Cross, the average gift size was $62 and more than $400,000 was raised through online donations.
Corporate America also responded to the call for help from the Red Cross.
They include:
Hewitt – $50,000
CDW– $100,000
McCormick – $500,000
Motorola – $375,000
Wrigley – $125,000
Komatsu – $100,000
Grainger – $50,000
ITW – $100,000
Walgreens – $150,000
Alberto-Culver – $25,000
USG – $10,000
The student-run radio station at Kennedy-King College, WKKC, on the South Side was among the radio stations that participated in the relief effort.
It is not too late for Chicagoans to give, said Red Cross officials. Chicagoans can make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund at www.chicagoredcross.org/haiti. And $10 or more donations can be made to the American Red Cross efforts in Haiti by send a text message, which reads “Haiti” to 90999.
The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago serves more than 8.6 million people in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties through the support and generous contributions of individuals, corporations, foundations, and the United Way.
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