Apple Accepting Donations for Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

[laudern]

Maybe Apple itself could donate 0.0001% of its savings instead of asking other people to do the same.

 

[Weaselboy]

Yep, plus you get the tax benefit while the ones actually spending the money don't get one. Nice racket Apple..

How so? Apple gets no tax benefit from this. If I make a donation, I get the tax deduction, not Apple.

 

[I7guy]

Maybe Apple itself could donate 0.0001% of its savings instead of asking other people to do the same.

Maybe they did donate some money, who knows? For profit companies are not obligated to give billions for everything as is frequently implied on these forums.

Just running a program like this costs the company money and it provides a way for people to give to a cause through a reputable source.

 

[krspkbl]

How much has Apple donated?

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Apple has probably donated in the millions.

 

[Janichsan]

Agreed. The fastest way to get anything done in America is with cash.

Yes, there will be waste, but no system devised by man is 100% efficient. If you wait for that level of perfection, you'll never get anything done.

This is not limited to America. No matter where in the world: if you want to help effectively, send money. And not to some random organisations, but to actually trustworthy ones.

If you just send "stuff" you think the affected people might require, you are almost guaranteed to send the wrong things. The helpers on-site know better what is needed, and to get that, they need money.

Even when you think you can help better by traveling in the disasters areas to lend a hand, you are more likely just to be in the way and hindering the actual aid.

The only exceptions are when the relief organisations specifically ask for certain goods and/or helpers.

 

[Syed Osama Salahuddin]

Money doesnt matter but your intentions matter !!!

 

[NoneTheWiser]

Poor 750 BILLION Apple... wants YOUR money to help, and play "politically correct".

Again 750 BILLION company wants YOUR money to play boy scout. And I say "play" because is what it is. THE most rich conglomerate on the planet asking for help... just so they can be view as "caring Apple".

PATHETIC! This is why I'll never give them once cent of my money ever again!

 

[macnchiefs]

I've worked at a Fortune 50 before. After every major disaster like this almost all major corporations do private donations and encourage their employees to donate as well. Typically they'll match their employees donations up to a certain amount.

In this case Apple put up a link... which is good. Nothing wrong with that. I'm sure they're encouraging their employees to donate as well as donating themselves privately.

People just need to chill and donate if you feel inclined to. If there is another organization that you would like to donate to then do it. There are lots of good ones out there.

 

[Saturn007]

Don't throw away your money on the Red Cross!

See, among many examples, "In Search Of The Red Cross' $500 Million In Haiti Relief" http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief

and "Red Cross Scandals Tarnish Relief Efforts" http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10640252/...scandals-tarnish-relief-efforts/#.WaQZm9EpCf0

"How the Red Cross Raised Half a Billion Dollars for Haiti and Built Six Homes" https://www.propublica.org/article/...a-billion-dollars-for-haiti-and-built-6-homes

"Watchdogs Call For More Oversight Of Red Cross Amid Donation Scandal" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...-donation-scandal_us_55f9c8e6e4b0fde8b0ccac98

The problems are long-standing ones:

"Scandal forces U.S. Red Cross to ask its new leader to resign"
"Turmoil continues at the top. The emergency responder has had five leaders in six years." http://www.startribune.com/scandal-forces-u-s-red-cross-to-ask-its-new-leader-to-resign/11922081/

 

[nevjets]

I agree but also found out that when companies express how much they donated to a cause/disaster, it encourages their customers/followers to donate as well. (Lead by example.) I think I would be ok with a company stating that they donated but not specifying how much $$$. On another note, the internet would attach that company for only donating $10,000 vs donating $1 million like other companies. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Like I said, there are dozens of companies and famous people who donate time and money without saying a peep. Simply because they genuinely care, not for publicity or to make more sales and make that bit more money. I don't buy it that it encourages people to donate. Either you care enough to donate to a cause or you don't care for that cause. These things don't make a difference to people who don't care about whatever cause apple is trumpeting they are donating to.


By the way, put me in the category that believes this picture is fake. I mean, who would be knitting and taking casual pictures in a situation like this?

 

[SlowX]

Texas food banks:
Houston Food Bank
832-369-9390
houstonfoodbank.org

Galveston Food Bank
409-945-4232
galvestoncountyfoodbank.org

Food Bank of the Golden Crescent (Victoria)
361-578-0591
victoriafoodbank.org
Closed Friday

Corpus Christi Food Bank
361-887-6291
foodbankcc.com

Southeast Texas Food Bank (Beaumont)
409-839-8777
setxfoodbank.org

Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (Pharr)
956-682-8101
foodbankrgv.com

Brazos Valley Food Bank (Bryan)
979-779-3663
bvfb.org

Central Texas Food Bank (Austin)
512-282-2111
centraltexasfoodbank.org

San Antonio Food Bank
210-337-3663
safoodbank.org

Ref:
http://www.houstonpress.com/restaur...for-hurricane-harvey-how-you-can-help-9735249

Local and national non-Red Cross orgs:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/27/how_to_help_hurricane_harvey_victims.html

 

[yanki01]

thank you to everyone. I'm from Corpus Christi and rode out the storm. it made landfall 30 miles away from us. local news was reporting a possible Cat 2 at landfall. it went from Cat 3 to Cat 4 within a few hours before landfall. at that time we felt like it was too late. power went out a little earlier than expecting. living by the coast we have some strong winds but those winds were something else. we were just waiting for the next tree or power line to fall. still no power at the house but thankfully no flooding. unfortunately can't say the same about our Houston friends. the small local town of Rockport took a big hit. really nice beach/fishing town and hopefully they all see the necessary funds to rebuild. the storm is looking like it's making it's way back into the Gulf and have another go at Houston in the coming days.

 

[davidg4781]

They say that one is lucky if 50% of the money one donates gets to the cause. That is why I prefer to donate "stuff" instead of cash.

Cash can go A LOT farther than stuff. Say you buy a case of corn for $15. They can possibly buy and cook 12 cans of corn for $5. Most of them have deals with manufacturers where they'll buy cans that are safe but not sellable.

 

[kdarling]

Maybe they did donate some money, who knows?

When Apple donates money to a disaster, they make a big deal about it.

It seems to help if you're a country they need favor in:

2013 - $8 million to Chinese earthquake victims
2014 - $1.6 million to China earthquake relief
2016 - $1 million to China flood relief

But Apple has donated in the US as well:

2001 - $1 million to 9/11 rescue workers, plus an iBook for each family
2012 - $2.5 million to Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy victims

For profit companies are not obligated to give billions for everything as is frequently implied on these forums.

Of course, NOBODY is obligated to donate, but it's considered to be part of good citizenship, along with possible religious reasons.

 

[nsayer]

Red Cross is pretty good, not perfect at 90%: https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277

That said, for a massive effort like this, the infrastructure of a huge charity like Red Cross is valuable.

Ask the people of Haiti how well that's worked out for them.

http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief

The Red Cross is and always has been a fraudulent organization.

 

[ksnell]

I know from one disaster event in Japan where money was collected here in Austria, and I know from first hand that not one cent arrived in Japan.

For such disaster events here in Austria (Europe) the Austrian government does all the work, financing and management. No donations needed. I love my government for this. I don't see why privately held organizations should manage such events, it's just a big money machine tricking the gullible good hearted people. After all why do we pay up to 50% taxes???

Taxes are not quite that high in America. Only comes close if you are super wealthy. Also, if an organization wants to be classified as a non-profit organization (for tax benefits) they have to get approved by our government tax office (IRS).

For sure there is no perfect system and you have to do research when donating but it allows altruistic people to create an organization to help others.

 

[I7guy]

When Apple donates money to a disaster, they make a big deal about it.

It seems to help if you're a country they need favor in:

2013 - $8 million to Chinese earthquake victims
2014 - $1.6 million to China earthquake relief
2016 - $1 million to China flood relief

But Apple has donated in the US as well:

2001 - $1 million to 9/11 rescue workers, plus an iBook for each family
2012 - $2.5 million to Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy victims



Of course, NOBODY is obligated to donate, but it's considered to be part of good citizenship, along with possible religious reasons.

Their silence at this point doesn't mean they have not donated. You can't ASSUME.

 

[JayIsAwesome]

I personally appreciate any and all genuine help that folks provide. I'm Houston right now and it's bad out here folks

 

[kdarling]

Their silence at this point doesn't mean they have not donated. You can't ASSUME.

Sure you can.

Using all known past history, Apple will say something if/when they donate to disaster relief.

That's not picking on them. It's the same for most other companies.

We also know that Tim Cook is far more likely to do so than his predecessor.

 

[I7guy]

Sure you can.

Using all known past history, Apple will say something if/when they donate to disaster relief.

That's not picking on them. It's the same for most other companies.

We also know that Tim Cook is far more likely to do so than his predecessor.

Ok, if that is your idea of a logical conclusion, go for it.

 

[santaliqueur]

Thanks for the correction. I somewhat lazily used the first dataset I could find - and that was from 2013.

Quite a difference in four years.

No problem. Some of those numbers looked off to me, and I just wanted to verify. Yes so much can change in 4 years!

 

[kdarling]

Ok, if that is your idea of a logical conclusion, go for it.

My conclusion is based on historical facts.

What are you claiming? That Apple suddenly makes anonymous disaster relief donations?

 

[cmwade77]

Honestly, I am not sure that the Red Cross is the correct organization to donate through, there are plenty of questions concerning how money was spent in Haiti:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/04/red-cross-haiti-report_n_7511080.html

To be fair, here is their response:
http://www.redcross.org/news/article/The-Real-Story-of-the-6-Homes-Answering-Questions-about-Haiti

I honestly can't say which of these is correct, but I CAN say that there are other charities that don't have these red flags associated with them and I would be more likely to donate to them. But each should make up their own mind based on the facts presented.

 

[ackmondual]

Ok but does the donor certificate come in space grey?

Apple Donation edition!
[doublepost=1503944039][/doublepost]

We’re good in Katy. So far. Good luck and be safe all.

I have an aunt and cousins who live in Katy. Glad to hear you guys are safe, as it's only 29 miles from Houston!
[doublepost=1503944621][/doublepost]

No, and even if they did, authorities know from past hurricane evacuations that the evacuation of large numbers of people can be very tricky and dangerous. People have died like what happened with the bus fire years ago in Texas. Some people have been evacuated to areas that were impacted even worse than where they lived, getting trapped in a hotel surrounded by flood waters, requiring a second evacuation. This flooding will probably go down as the worst flooding in this country in decades, maybe a century or two. This is Katrina for the Houston area, hopefully not as bad when it comes to the loss of life. Recovery will be measured in years, not weeks or months.

QFT
When Hurricane Sandy hit NJ, I asked my parents if they wanted to live with me in VA with power and such. They declined. They were concerned that gas stations may not be in operation so they wouldn't have enough to get down. Also, the roads might not be clear, or as clear. If they're going to be in the dark without power, they'd rather be at home where at least they have food, shelter, a bed, and a larger living space, as opposed to being stranded out on the road.