Haiti Relief information
Listed below are several organizations accepting donations for Haiti Relief:
http://www.redcross.org/
http://www.crs.org/
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/country.cfm?id=2323
http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dotorg_homepage
http://www.elca.org/
From U.S. Travel Association - www.ustravel.org
Dear Travel Colleague:
The death toll in the aftermath of Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti continues to rise, and hundreds of thousands of Haitians are injured or displaced. Critical infrastructure in the country has been severely damaged, and food, water and shelter are urgently needed. The travel community has stepped up in a big way, and Arnie Weissmann and his team at Travel Weekly have collected information on what is being done (see below).
Many in the industry have been sending messages identifying relief organizations that could use our support. To assist in this effort, listed below are organizations and websites where you can contribute to helping the dire situation for our devastated neighbors.
American Red Cross
http://newsroom.redcross.org/2010/01/12/disaster-alert-earthquake-in-haiti
Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Pan American Relief
www.panamericanrelief.org
Salvation Army
http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org
U.S. State Department
http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/disaster_haiti
Text 'HAITI' to '90999' and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.
World Vision
www.worldvision.org
There are many more good organizations having an impact and seeking donations. Please consider making a contribution. Every dollar and every minute counts.
It makes me feel humbled and proud to represent an industry that continually shows compassion and steps up to assist in times of need. Thanks, as always, for your generosity and support.
Sincerely,
Below is the latest update of the services and aid being provided by travel companies worldwide as reported by Travel Weekly:
- The Caribbean Tourism Organization mobilized its Disaster Relief Fund to channel monetary assistance to Haiti. Checks in U.S. Dollars can be written to the CTO Relief Fund and sent to CTO's New York office at 80 Broad St., 32nd Floor, New York City 10004. Funds also can be transferred directly to the relief fund, JP Morgan Chase Bank, 401 Madison Ave., New York City 10017.
- Travel Guard will provide free emergency travel and medial assistance services to travelers and families affected by the earthquake. Services available include coordination of emergency medial arrangements and evacuations, temporary lodging, cash wire transfers, passport replacement, translation services, message relay, emergency travel arrangements and luggage tracking. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all whose lives have been devastated by this tragic event," said Dean Sively, CEO of Travel Guard North America.
- AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle, is offering mileage incentives to its frequent flyer program members for contributing to the Red Cross. Effective Jan. 14, members can earn a one-time bonus of 250 miles for a minimum donation of $50 or 500 miles for a donation of $100 or more through Feb. 28. "We invite our customers to join us in supporting the American Red Cross.We appreciate and acknowledge their generosity with this opportunity to earn Aadvantage miles," said Peter Dolara, senior vice president.
- Spirit Airlines will give 5,000 Spirit miles to the first 200,000 members who donate at least $5 to UNICEF, the Red Cross or Yele Haiti. Members must register online by Jan. 17 to participate.
- United Airlines through its United Airlines Foundation will match up to a total of $50,000 to the American Red Cross for monetary donations that United customers and employees make to the organization through its International Response Fund. In addition, Mileage Plus members and employees can donate miles to the airline's nonprofit relief partners as part of its Charity Miles program.
- Grand Circle Travel is matching customers' donations to Haiti. In the first 45 minutes after the firm emailed its customers about the Haitian Disaster Relief initiative, more than 270 donations were received, according to Priscilla O'Reilly, director of public relations. In addition, the firm pledged $15,000 via the American Red Cross.
- Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas will carry relief supplies to Labadee, Haiti, Friday and the line plans to send additional relief on the Navigator of the Seas and the Liberty of the Seas on Monday and Tuesday. John Weis, RCCL's associate vice president of private destinations and overseer of Labadee operations, wrote on Royal Caribbean CEO Adam Goldstein's blog, "We are committed to continuing calls to Labadee with Independence of the Seas tomorrow. There were a lot of discussions about this, but in the end, Labadee is critical to Haiti's recovery and hundreds of people rely on Labadee for their livelihood."
- Choice Hotels said that members of its Choice Privileges rewards program could donate points to organizations such as the Red Cross.
- Starwood Hotels and Resorts partnered with the Red Cross to collect hotel points from members of its Starwood Preferred Guest program to help with relief efforts.
