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Vodacom Foundation

Vodacom declares Red Alert and donates R500 000 for flood victims

Monday, 24 January 2011

Vodacom today donated half a million rands towards victims of recent floods in South Africa and immediately invited its customers to join it with their own contributions via the Vodacom Red Alert programme launched early last year.

The Vodacom Red Alert initiative provides a technology-based platform through which customers can donate R5, R10 or R20 towards a specific natural disaster.

Outside the actual donation from participating individual customers, the costs usually recovered from the customer contribution, which tended to reduce the actual contribution, will be waived in the case of Vodacom Red Alert contributions. This means that the full amount donated by customers reaches the intended victims via the appointed beneficiary organisation.

To donate R10 via the Vodacom Red Alert SMS platform, Vodacom customers can send an SMS from their cellphones with the word "Aid" to 38416.

Alternatively, Vodacom customers can dial *120*243# from their Vodacom cellphones, and follow the prompts to donate R5, R10 or R20.

Mthobi Tyamzashe, Chairman of the Vodacom Foundation, said: "We are pleased to respond to the appeal by the government for assistance to victims of flooding through the contribution of R500 000 from the Vodacom Foundation. In addition, by declaring a Vodacom Red Alert, we have very quickly mobilised our technology platforms to allow our customers and staff to help those in need. We trust that this will provide some relief for those feeling the brunt of the inclement weather."

Funds raised through Vodacom Red Alert will be channelled to victims through the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS), a highly reputable agency providing humanitarian relief, which is the Vodacom Red Alert-appointed distribution agency.

Mandisa Kalako-Williams, Secretary General of the The South African Red Cross Society, said: "We are pleased to receive this significant donation from Vodacom. The Red Cross have received the official notification of the Disaster Areas Declaration from the Government on the recent floods in South Africa.  We are the official appointed Organisation to receive the funds emanating from the Government's appeal for relief support, which is an honour for us."

Vodacom's Red Alert was set up during the course of last year to enable the company to respond quickly and efficiently to natural large-scale disasters and emergencies. The platform was created by Vodafone following the Haiti earthquake in early 2010, when 14 Vodafone companies around the world made use of an SMS-platform to raise in excess of R50-million towards the Haiti appeal.

For non-cash contributions, interested parties can send their donations of blankets, clothing and non-perishable food stuffs through another appointed distribution agency, The Salvation Army, by contacting the Army's Public Relations Secretary on 011-718-6746. Non-Vodacom customers can also contribute by making payments directly into the following account of The Salvation Army:

Account name: The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal
Bank: First National Bank
Branch: Braamfontein (branch code 251905)
Account number: 50540087604
Deposit slips should be faxed to 011-718-6796. Cheques made out to "The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal" can also be posted to PO Box 32217, Braamfontein, 2017

 



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