Haiti, 1.13.2010 Earthquake

..and Al Qaeda can just try to overcome the souls of the American people who are the driving force behind the rescuing of our brothers and sisters in Haiti.  When there is a disaster in the world, the people affected by that natural disaster turn their eyes to whom?  American Exceptionalism or Islamic Jihadist Terrorism.   Just one more reason to be hated, and I’m personally damn proud of that reason.  Reminds me of this.

Haiti donations on track to break records

Celebrities, companies, sports teams and regular Americans are mobilizing to help Haiti with an outpouring of generosity that could exceed private donations made after Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Asian tsunami.

“We’re hearing that this is breaking all records,” says Sandra Miniutti of Charity Navigator, an independent group that evaluates U.S. charities.

After Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, private donations by Americans totaled $6.47 billion, says Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy. Almost $2 billion was given by private U.S. donors after the Asian tsunami.

As people learn more about the destruction, she says, “I think there will be more giving.” Amazon.com‘s homepage has a link to Mercy Corps that raised $111,000 in its first six hours.

No organization has compiled total giving, but donations are adding up quickly: Actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie gave $1 million to Doctors Without Borders. CNN founder Ted Turner said he’ll give $1 million to relief efforts. The New York Yankees donated $500,000. Eli Lilly and Co. pledged $125,000 in immediate aid and $125,000 more over the next year.

The American Red Cross has raised $8 million through texts that add $10 donations to phone bills. Oxfam America has raised $2.7 million.

Haiti Relief: Corporate Donations – See How Much Major Companies Are Donating

Major Corporate Donations To Haiti Relief Efforts:
(Updates are added below)

• Bank of America announced a $1 million commitment to aid the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The commitment includes a $500,000 grant to the American Red Cross for the Haitian Relief and Development Fund.
• JPMorgan Chase also said it would commit $1 million.
• Citigroup has indicated that it will give $2 million, including $250,000 to the American Red Cross.
• Morgan Stanley has pledged $1 million.

• Walmart is donating 500,000 to the Red Cross, in addition to $100,000 worth of food.
• General Electric is contributing $2.5 million to relief efforts.
• Google is giving $1 million and has added a link on its homepage that explains ways people can support Haiti’s disaster relief.
• Virgin Atlantic, according to the Financial Times, is “flying key medical workers and relief agency staff to Haiti in its flights to Miami, Orlando and Jamaica during the coming days, while British Airways said it was preparing a Boeing 747 with capacity for up to 50 tonnes of cargo to fly to Haiti on Saturday.”
• McDonald’s said it will donate at least $1 million to relief efforts.
• Web hosting company Go Daddy pledged $500,000 to Hope for Haiti.
• The UPS Foundation committed $1 million to various relief organizations.
• The General Motors Foundation made a $100,000 contribution to the American Red Cross.
• Sprint gave $50,000 to the American Red Cross.
• Visa committed $200,000 to the Red Cross.
• The PepsiCo Foundation donated $1 million and committed Quaker products, bottled water, and Gatorade for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
• Diageo Plc, the alcoholic drinks provider, committed to giving 45,000 pounds of food and emergency supplies to the earthquake victims.
• Yum! Brands Inc, a restaurant company, is contributing $500,000.
• Comcast is directing over $1 million to the relief efforts.
• Unilever donated $500,000 for earthquake victims in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme.
• Microsoft contributed $1.25 million.
• The Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) committed emergency hurricane supplies from its hospitals in the southern United States to the relief effort.
• U.S. Bank pledged $100,000 and committed to match employee donations.
• The Walt Disney Company said it would give $100,000 to earthquake victims.
• General Mills donated $250,000, $150,000 of which will be used for long-term rebuilding.
• Apple has allowed its customers to donate through iTunes. Donations can me made for $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 and $200. 100 percent of the money will go to the American Red Cross.
• Walgreens has donated $100,000 and is matching employee contributions of up to $50,000.
• Western Union has committed $250,000 and waving fees for sending money to Haiti for seven days.
• Dell has pledged $500,000 to be split evenly between UNICEF and the International Red Cross. The company is also matching employee donations up to a total of $250,000.
• Credit Suisse promised to match employees’ donations two-to-one.
• Target will donate $500,000 to the American Red Cross.
• UBS also said it would match employee contributions, up to a maximum of $500,000.
• Deutsche Bank will donate all of the commissions from its U.S. Equity Trading desk on Friday to the relief effort in Haiti.
• The broker dealer Jefferies said it would donate $1 million plus all of its commissions on Friday. The firm expects its total contribution to reach $5 million by the end of the day.
• Hewlett-Packard announced that it will donate $750,000, and may donate up to another $250,000.
• The Pew Charitable Trusts pledge $500,000 to the effort. One half of the donation will be granted to the American Red Cross and the other half will go to CARE.
• The Rothschild Estates donated $2.5 million to support the earthquake victims in Haiti.
• A number of pharmaceutical companies pledged to contribute money and drugs to the effort. Pfizer donated an undisclosed sum as well as drugs; Merck committed $350,000 and promised to match employee contributions, in addition to donating $200,000 worth of drugs to the country; GlaxoSmithKline sent money and drugs; Abbott said it would give $1 million; Eli Lilly pledged $250,000 and promised to match employee contributions up to that amount; Squibb sent medicine and will give $250,000; and Amgen gave $2 million.
• The Intel Foundation is matching employee donations.
• FedEx is providing shipping services for relief organizations.
• The Coca Cola Foundation donated $1 million to aid the relief effort.
• Goldman Sachs will pitch in $1 million, and Wells Fargo $100,000.

Don’t you just hate capitalists?