Social Impact & Volunteering

Text-to-Donate and Employee Relief Effort Assist Hurricane Sandy Victims

Verizon waives text-to-donate fees and matches employee donations 2:1
Nov 2, 2012 6:25 PM ET
Sarah Ortega brought her five-month-old son and five other children to the Red Cross shelter in Toms River, NJ. © American Red Cross

October 31: Verizon has waived text messaging fees for text-to-donate campaigns launched by several nonprofit organizations and established an employee disaster-relief campaign with a 2:1 match from the company.

[Update Nov. 2: Verizon announced it would match customer text-to-donate contributions to American Red Cross relief efforts up to one million dollars. Customers can make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999. Those who would like to give more can donate up to $50 via text.]

The Verizon matching funds come from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, and is part of more than $1.2 million the foundation has committed to relief efforts, including $200,000 to support local relief efforts in New York and New Jersey.

100 percent of each text messaging donation goes directly to the organizations. Verizon Wireless customers can make a $10 donation by texting the numbers listed below:

    REDCROSS to 90999 to support the American Red Cross
    STORM to 80888 to give to the Salvation Army
    HUMANE to 80888 for the American Humane Association
    UWHC to 52000 to the United Way of Hudson County, N.J.

Customers who would like to give more can donate up to five times their original donation. For example, customers making a $10 donation can give up to $50.

Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills will see their donations on the next regular monthly bill. For customers using the company’s prepaid services, donations will be taken from customers’ prepaid balances.    

In addition, the Verizon Foundation provide a 2:1 match on employee donations of $25 or more to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army up to $1,000 per employee. The disaster-relief program is now open to Verizon employees throughout the world, and runs through November 15.

To support those in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Verizon Wireless has also set up multiplemobile device charging stations to assist those still without power.

For more information on Verizon Wireless efforts related to Hurricane Sandy, visit the Emergency Information Center.