RED CROSS TEAMS UP WITH OPTUS AND BE.INTERACTIVE TO LAUNCH SMS DONATION SERVICE TO SUPPORT DISASTER APPEALS

Optus mobile customers can now make quick and immediate SMS donations to Red Cross to provide assistance to those affected by the devastating disasters in both Japan and New Zealand.

Currently available to Optus mobile customers only, the new SMS donations service will help raise much needed funds for the Red Cross Japan & Pacific Disaster and New Zealand Earthquake Appeals. The service can also be made available to support other major Red Cross local and international disaster appeals as needed.

From 28 March – 11 April 2011, Optus mobile customers can support those affected simply by texting either the word “NZ” or “Japan” to 19RELIEF (19735433) to donate $5 to either of the appeals. Optus prepaid customers will have the amount debited from their account credit while post-paid customers will be charged via their monthly bills.

Red Cross CEO, Robert Tickner says, “Australians have enthusiastically responded to the devastating disasters in Japan and New Zealand. While the outpouring of generosity has been encouraging, the scale of these tragedies mean more help is needed.”

“We are gratified by the goodwill response by Optus and Be.interactive to lead the way in the telecommunications industry by providing this SMS giving initiative to Optus customers. Australians are compassionate people and we want to give when we can – we just need efficient and effective ways to do this. We hope Optus customers are inspired by this easy, quick and immediate way of donating, particularly young people”, Mr Tickner said.

Maha Krishnapillai, Director of Government and Corporate Affairs at Optus, said “Through our partnership with Australian Red Cross and Be.interactive, we are able to offer our eight million mobile customers a quick and easy way to make a donation via SMS to support major disaster appeals. It’s one way we can help our customers to show their support for communities in times of great need.”

Lara Thom, Managing Director of Be.interactive said “We are delighted to be able to partner with Red Cross and Optus on this initiative. There are so many times where others need our help and as a community we all feel the need to give. SMS is the most simple form of communication and often the most effective and therefore to offer this simple and immediate solution for consumers to donate means we can deliver funds faster to those in need.”

Texting contributions took off last year in the USA after the earthquake in Haiti. More than 3 million donors used text messages to donate $32 million to American Red Cross relief efforts following the Port-au-Prince quake. Mr Tickner said “The success of the Haiti mobile campaign shows the powerful impact and opportunity this channel can have on raising much needed funds.”

How to donate
Optus mobile customers can donate $5 to the New Zealand Earthquake Appeal by texting “NZ” to 19RELIEF (19735433). To donate $5 to the Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal, they can text “Japan” to 19RELIEF (19735433). All donations are tax deductible and donations of more than $5 can be made by calling 1800 811 700 or securely via the Red Cross website: www.redcross.org.au. The service is not available to customers of Optus’ wholesalers or resellers.

For further information go to: http://redcross.org.au/Optus_SMS_Donations.htm orfacebook.com/australianredcross.

Media contacts:

Kasia Ciszak
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: (02) 8082 7850

Tina Peter
Red Cross
Tel: 0459 838 429

Terms and Conditions

For appeal information contact Australian Red Cross: 1800 811 700. SMS provided by Be.interactive. Cost: $5 per SMS sent. If you are under 18yrs you must have the bill payers permission before using this service. SMS helpline 1800 653 344. The SMS RELIEF donation function opens at 08:30 (AEST/AEDT) on 28/03/2011 and closes at 23:59 (AEST/AEDT) on 11/04/2011. No fee will be deducted from the SMS donation by Be.interactive or Optus. Australian Red Cross will not deduct more than 10% of any donation for the appeal to cover administration and appeal costs. Should the funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the immediate and longer term needs of the people in the affected areas, Australian Red Cross will direct the excess funds to other emergency preparedness and response initiatives in the Asia Pacific region. Any interest earned on donations will be invested back into the appeal.