Open Forum: Are There Any Second Life Fundraisers for the Victims of the Haiti Earthquake?

News from Haiti in the aftermath of the recent earthquake has been horrific, and in times like these (such as Katrina), the Second Life community often rallies together to start fundraisers, for donating Linden Dollars converted to cash for the victims and relief organizations helping them. If you're aware of any existing now or being planned, please post the details in Comments, and I'll highlight as many as I can. Much thanks to Tonjampae Amat, my Portuguese translator, for the suggestion!

Update, 7:07pm: To start donating now. Roland Legrand points us to the Red Cross donation site. An here's some Residents volunteering to put together some in-world fundraising activities -- please get in touch with them in-world!

• Katydid Something: "I'm starting to put together a two day Music and Arts festival to benefit Haiti Earthquake victims. Planning funds to go to the American Red Cross for distribution to Haiti. Dates still to be determined."
• OMGWTF Barbecue: "This week (and next), some of the Fifty Linden Fridays vendors will have a special red colored item out for 50L. Proceeds from the sales of these red items will be collected, documented and sent to the Red Cross."

Comments

[Roland Legrand]

Hey, this is what I got in-world from millay Freschi, the Rings Discussions:

HAITI EARTHQUAKE URGENT ACTION
Wed Jan 13 21:32:34 2010

We're all wondering what we can do. The note attached has Siri's Information card embedded and I have included information from the Red Cross. We know they're going to need two things DESPERATELY! Blood and money. Give blood so that internationally we increase the supply. i'm going right now to do just that. Donate to Red Cross. Every dime will help this resource poor country to rebuild. Please, do what you can.

peace

~millay

attached was information from the Red Cross:

12:30am (1/13/2010) You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti.

6:20 pm The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by this earthquake, and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation. As with most earthquakes, we expect to see immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support.

The American Red Cross is accepting donations through our International Response Fund.
http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main

Furthermore there was talk on the Chilbo Community chat channel about organizing events to support projects in Haiti which have been hit by the earthquake.

[OMGWTF Barbecue]

This week (and next), some of the Fifty Linden Fridays vendors will have a special red colored item out for 50L. Proceeds from the sales of these red items will be collected, documented and sent to the Red Cross. I will also be putting donation boxes out in my shopping sims, ALBERO & Cioccolata. Feel free to contact me in world with any questions or if you'd like to help.

[Katydid Something]

I'm starting to put together a 2 day Music and Arts festival to benefit Haiti Earthquake victims. Planning funds to go to the American Red Cross for distribution to Haiti. Dates still to be determined. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact me.

[Ann Otoole]

If LL runs the fund raiser i'll donate. Otherwise my donations are done in real life where I know the money will get where it is supposed to go.

[OMGWTF Barbecue]

FYI: I will be documenting the total donations in-world, on Lindex and on paypal, as well as showing the receipt of the amount donated.

I'll post all of the documentation on plurk, flickr and my blog.

Everything will be going to the Red Cross International Response Fund via their website.

[Greg Gustav]

Hay everybody!
I've decided to donate all the money I make from selling my hats at The Funky Chapeau for the next 2 weeks to help the disaster recovery!

I'm making a tip jar also please IM me if you want one!
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Asylum%20Island/134/118/22

[Corcosman Voom]

For information about any charity, I like http://www.charitynavigator.org/

I pay attention to how much goes to admin costs and how much actually gets distributed to recipients ( "program expenses" ).

I've written a check to the same organization that I have supported for some years, they are on the ground in the Carribean and Latin America and will be there after the current situation becomes a memory.

[Rhiannon Chatnoir]

I tried to post a really long post in the comments here but it didn't like that...so, what seemed to make the most sense was to reply on the once widely used (and SL's first multi-author blogsite) SLOG.

I put together a list of in and out of SL resources for info and donating along with what I know of for some of the in world efforts being started. Please go there and also feel to crosspost your comments there as well.

The SLOG post: http://secondslog.blogspot.com/2010/01/virtual-help-for-real-life-disaster-in.html

Thanks Wagner for getting the ball rolling!

[freereed]

Group: "Profiles for Haiti"

To meet the crisis in wake of Haiti Earthquake A 7.3 earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, 2010
The first wave of assistance is for food, water, shelter, medical assistance, transportation digging people out, taking care of the dead. We are sending out links so people can contribute funds directly. The second wave of assistance towards rebuilding Haiti, an ongoing humanitarian effort.

*place this information in your profile to encourage others to donate directly:

To Donate directly to Red Cross Relief efforts Haiti:
Choose "International Response Fund"
http://tinyurl.com/ybttwbl

and

http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake/

they are helping with helicopters to deliver goods where roads are gone As the UN’s Special Envoy to Haiti, President Clinton is asking everyone to give what you can to help the people of Haiti respond and recover from this disaster

*keep members informed of donation efforts

(FYI Key West Resort http://slurl.com/secondlife/Key%20West%20Island/92/91/29 has put out Red Cross Kiosk for all club donations today to go to Haitian relief and DJ Eaton likewise is donating his tips)

[Chibi Lexenstar]

The Chilbo community is hosting a benefit concert and block party to raise much-needed funds for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Please join us for an afternoon of music as we try to raise $100,000L to donate to American Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.

Chilbo Benefit Concert and Block Party for Haiti
Date: Saturday, 1/16
Time: 12-4 slt
Place: Madhupak Sandbox
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Madhupak/120/216/89

[freereed Freenote]

For anyone who is interested in making donations to Haitian Earthquake relief efforts I have a list of the vetted charities (from the Clinton Foundation). You can IM me inworld and I can give them to you there, or IM me inworld and ask for my gmail.

[rikomatic]

Thanks so much for creating this common space for people to find out about the various SL efforts to help Haiti. And thanks for all that everyone is doing for the people of Haiti!

FYI, there are other worlds where people are donating and gathering. I'm putting together info on these various efforts here: http://www.betterverse.org/2010/01/virtual-world-avatars-unite-to-help-haiti-.html

Best, Rik

[Eddi Haskell]

I am collecting for Direct Relief International's Haiti Emergency Fund.

Here is information on the organziation:
http://www.directrelief.org/. You can donate directly here.

If you would like to make a donation, or get a kiosk for your own land here are the SLURLS:

Living Color: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Whiskers/19/90/1236

Zindra Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Uxert/209/233/62

[freereed Freenote]

Red Cross ALL STARS

Key West Resort, through continous live music and DJ events has raised $350.00 USD for American Red Cross Relief for Haiti. Their first check has already been cut and sent@! Owner Liz Harley says her aim is to reach $500.USD through club tip donations, generous DJ's and patrons.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Key%20West%20Island/86/94/29

Are there any other fundraising efforts whose aim is to reach the $500 USD mark?? Step up and join the Red Cross ALL STARS... or the charity of your choice.:))

[Bonny Greenwood]

Inspire Space Park will be hosting an event tomorrow evening, Saturday the 23rd @ 7pm sl time at their Outer Rim location. All donations at the event will go straight to “Food for the Poor” http://www.foodforthepoor.org who provide direct relief assistance to the poor, usually by purchasing specifically requested materials and distributing them through the churches and charity organizations already operating in areas of need.

They are currently bringing food into the disaster zones right now and we’ve seen good ratings on this charity as far as actual value to your donated $. Here is a recent press release from the 10th on their progress in Haiti. http://www.foodforthepoor.org/newsroom/news/food-for-the-poor-update-on.html

There will be donation kiosks setup at the show and in the park for the following month for anyone who wants to donate to this particular charity.

The main stage is here : http://slurl.com/secondlife/Butsu/201/123/2442

If that region is already full by the time you attempt to teleport you can also see the show from our second stage.

The second stage is here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Shinda/8/123/2436

[Trantryss Muircastle]

=Derailed=, one of the top clubs in SL for industrial, aggrotech, and ebm music, will be holding a charity drive all day today, January 23, 2010. A donation jar has been placed to collect lindens from guests who wish to donate to the Red Cross to help them aid the survivors of the Haitian earthquake. Some of our DJ's will be donating 100% of their tips to the cause, as well.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sub%20Zero/190/56/25

[Texy Firecaster]

Wolfes Pond First Responders RP sim held a benefit for Haiti and raised over 50,000 linden to donate to the Red Cross....we can't thank our attendees enough!