Reader Forum: Mobile Giving Foundation founder says thanks

Editor’s Note: Jim Manis, chairman and CEO of the Mobile Giving Foundation (MGF) reports from Hawaii just hours after the catastrophic Chilean earthquake. :
As circumstance would have it, I traveled to the island of Maui on the day before the horrible 8.8 earthquake that devastated much of Chile. At 6a.m. yesterday morning, authorities issued the tsunami warning system with sirens blaring and helicopters clearing the beach throughout the day.
In the face of a truly tragic situation in Chile, once again, the wireless industry has swiftly responded to the needs of those who are suffering in the wake of this natural disaster.
Like Haiti, the major carriers – AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless– have mobilized and provisioned short codes for use in mobile-giving campaigns to help the victims of the Chilean earthquake.
They also have eliminated standard rated message charges that might have been associated with Chilean relief donations, and continue to process donations for all mobile giving campaigns on a 100% pass through basis.
For me, the worries of an impending tsunami have subsided. The Hawaiian islands, along with the other areas that were feared to be affected, are safe.
For the victims in Chile, the danger continues with aftershocks.
My deep appreciation goes out to the carriers who have responded so quickly as well as our authorized application service providers (ASPs) that have rapidly engaged with national NPOs to jumpstart relief efforts that should ease the strife in Chile.
The Mobile Giving Foundation will continue to work with our ASPs and NPOs throughout the coming weeks, as more details emerge from Chile, more support programs are initiated, and more mobile-giving programs are implemented.
Over the next week or two, we will make daily announcements of new mobile-giving programs that are started to help the people of Chile.
Sadly, devastating events such as the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile will continue to happen.
But, as an industry, we have institutionalized a process to speed donations from the public and perform monetary distributions to supportive NPOs as quickly as possible.
For this cooperation between carriers, ASPs, and NPOs, I am personally very grateful.
There are several organizations that are responding to this urgent need with mobile‑giving efforts, including the following:
Text the word “CHILE” to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of World Vision;
Text the word “CHILE” to 52000 to donate $10 on behalf of the Salvation Army;
Text the word “SAVE” to 20222 to donate $10 on behalf of Save the Children Federation, Inc.;
Text the word “CHILE” to 85944 to donate $10 on behalf of International Medical Corp.;
Text the word “4CHILE” to 50555 to donate $10 on behalf of Convoy of Hope;
Text the word “CHILE” to 50555 to donate $10 on behalf of Friends of the World Program;
Text the word “REBUILD” to 50555 to donate $10 on behalf of Friends of the Operation USA.