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Guest post by Jayne Mayer, director of employee engagement for the Verizon Foundation
After learning about the April 25 earthquake that devastated Nepal, Verizon stepped into action, announcing that it would waive call charges to the country and rally its employees and customers to help out.
From April 27 through May 10, more than 1,700 Verizon employees worldwide pledged $214,000 to the American Red Cross and World Vision to support relief efforts in Nepal and surrounding areas. The Verizon Foundation will match employee donations 1-to-1, up to $1K per donor, to help with the continued relief efforts in Nepal.
“We are extremely grateful for the compassion shown by Verizon and its employees in response to the devastating earthquake in Nepal,”
said Steven Spinner, senior director of corporate partnerships, American Red Cross North Jersey region.
“Verizon employees consistently step forward to help those affected by disasters here and around the world and have once again been exceptionally generous in their support of our relief efforts.”
The America Red Cross has committed a total of $5 million toward the Nepal relief effort. The Nepal Red Cross has disaster teams operating in the most-affected regions, distributing shelter materials, hygiene kits, blankets, healthcare supplies and food to those in need. More than 28,000 tarps, 2,000 sets of relief supplies and almost 242 million water-purification tablets have already been distributed. More than 4,000 first-aid volunteers have mobilized throughout the districts.
World Vision shared that it has reached 29,765 beneficiaries, but the transport and logistics of relief supplies have been a major challenge. World Vision has distributed 3,919 tarps, 4,644 corrugated galvanized iron sheets, 2,500 blankets, and food for 7,674 families.
Verizon will continue to waive charges for long-distance calls and text messages from the U.S. to Nepalese numbers through May 31 to support its customers who are trying to communicate with their families and friends in Nepal. If fees were charged, credits will be issued in a future bill statement.false
Verizon Wireless also is allowing its customers to make a $10 donation, via text, to:
- World Vision by texting NEPAL to 777444.
- The Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
Text-messaging fees will be waived, and Verizon Wireless postpaid customers will see their donations on their next regular monthly bill. For customers using the company’s prepaid services, donations will be deducted from their prepaid balances.
As a global company that cares about the communities where our employees live and work, we’re proud to do our part, especially during disasters.
