Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation has today pledged $50,000 in cash assistance to those affected by the severe flooding in the Western and Northern Division. The donation comes from the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation under its Red Alert program. Vodafone red Alert is a partnership between Vodafone Foundations and Vodafone operating companies which utilizes its SMS platform in fundraising initiatives to generate support amongst employees and customers in the immediate aftermath of emergencies and disasters to provide disaster relief assistance.
The cruel wrath of nature has had a devastating impact on the lives of hundreds of families and in particular many school children who have lost everything as they prepared to begin their new schools year. In such times of calamities, we must all unite as human beings to provide strength and hope to those affected. We therefore plead to our customers and business partners to give generously to the Vodafone Red Fiji Alert Flood drive so that we can make that little difference and bring back hope to the many affected by floods in the west. To donate, Vodafone customers can dial *767# and pledge the amount they wish to contribute.
Whilst Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation has made an initial pledge of $50,000 today, we are hopeful that through the red alert campaign, we would be able to raise additional funds to further assist those affected as second phase. This initial $50,000 is to cater for the immediate basic needs of food, clean drinking water and clothing of those who have been affected and those staying in at evacuation centres.
Through the red alert, we hope to raise additional funds with contributions received from our customers and other Vodafone partner networks which would all be allocated as assistance to those affected by floods.
The Fiji Red Alert program was launched on 18th March, 2010 in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Tomas. The program is focused on enabling Vodafone employees and customers to make cash contributions via SMS without any charge.
After TC Tomas, Vodafone Red Alert raised close to $170,000 of which $90k was disbursed to 5 charity organizations to respond to Cyclone Tomas in Northern Division, Lomaiviti and Outer Islands. With the balance of funds, 40 destitute and senior citizens, 400 School Children and 150 farmers were also assisted through our NGO partners, Lions Club of Labasa; FCOSS National Volunteer Centre; Northern Charity Alliance; Save The Children and FCOSS Microfinance.
Vodafone Red Alert donated $69k towards the December, 2010 Christchurch earthquake relief.
The Vodafone Red Alert is a global fundraising facility localized in various countries by Vodafone operating companies. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, many witnessed the power of SMS fundraising with 14 Vodafone companies around the world engaged in SMS fundraising, in excess of £4.6 million.