How to help Oklahoma tornado victims - U.S. News

How to help Oklahoma tornado victims - U.S. News: The loss of life and stunning devastation in Oklahoma City suburbs after a monster tornado ripped through the area are heart-wrenching. But within hours, relief organizations were getting out the message on how to help.

Emerson students' 'Boston Strong' t-shirt fundraiser breaks the $800,000 mark - Emerson - Your Campus - Boston.com

Emerson students' 'Boston Strong' t-shirt fundraiser breaks the $800,000 mark - Emerson - Your Campus - Boston.com: The two Emerson students who launched a massive fundraising initiative for the marathon bombing victims by selling "Boston Strong" t-shirts have raised more than $800,000 to date, according to Emerson College officials.

URI Students Create Disaster Aid Calculator | WPRI.com

URI Students Create Disaster Aid Calculator | WPRI.com: SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) – University of Rhode Island students created a unique online calculator that can help disaster relief agencies around the world.

The Greatest Good Donation Calculator shows that cash donations after natural or other disasters are far better than donated goods.

Disaster Relief Groups Say Donations Aren't Coming In Like Befor - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

Disaster Relief Groups Say Donations Aren't Coming In Like Befor - Central Coast News KION/KCBA: ord said while local disasters are up about 30 percent over the past year, local donations have been about the same. But she said donations for national disasters were up.

"When the big event occurs, of course people want to donate to that, and I wouldn't discourage that by any means, but at the same time we have our own neighbors and family to take care of here," she said.

Dave Matthews Band Donates $100,000 to West Recovery | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Dave Matthews Band Donates $100,000 to West Recovery | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth: The charitable arm of the Dave Matthews Band, Bama Works, has donated $100,000 to the West, Texas Disaster Relief Fund.

Since 1999, the Charlottesville, Va.-based fund has made more than 800 donations totaling $15 million to both national and international causes

Marathon Bombings May Have Hurt Nonprofits’ Fundraising

massnonprofit.org ::: May 7, 2013 — Fallout from last month's Boston Marathon bombings seems to have included local nonprofit fundraising efforts, perhaps temporarily, as people, responding generously to help victims of the attack, may have diverted their philanthropy from other worthy causes, based on results from signature fundraising events of three nonprofits – Project Bread, Run-Walk to Home Base, and Longwood Giving.

The Makers of Ushahidi Hope to Kickstart a Backup Communications Server | MIT Technology Review

The Makers of Ushahidi Hope to Kickstart a Backup Communications Server | MIT Technology Review: This Box Keeps Information Flowing During a Crisis

The creators of Ushahidi, a crisis mapping platform, have developed hardware that keeps wireless communication going in the midst of chaos.

Giving opportunities abound after Boston bombing, but experts urge donors proceed with caution - The Washington Post

Giving opportunities abound after Boston bombing, but experts urge donors proceed with caution - The Washington Post: At least two online campaigns aimed to help David Henneberry buy a new boat after his was shot up while a Boston Marathon bombing suspect hid inside. And a handful of drives have cropped up to help the family of Martin Richard, the 8-year-old killed in the attack.

Neither recipient had anything to do with setting up those fundraisers.

Local nonprofit group raises more than $1 million for Rockaway recovery� - NY Daily News

Local nonprofit group raises more than $1 million for Rockaway recovery� - NY Daily News: A Rockaway nonprofit group that has raised more than $1 million for their storm-battered neighbors say it’s only the beginning of their fight to ensure the recovery of their beloved community.

The Graybeards, an 11-year-old Rockaway volunteer group, has donated Home Depot gift cards and checks to more than 800 struggling families so far since Superstorm Sandy struck, group officials said.

Donation Payouts for Some Boston Victims to Top $1-Million - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Donation Payouts for Some Boston Victims to Top $1-Million - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Kenneth Feinberg, the lawyer handling distribution of some $28-million given to help victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, will unveil a proposal Monday that calls for the families of those who died and the most seriously disabl

Ten Commandments for using SMS in natural disasters

Ten Commandments for using SMS in natural disasters: Three years later, he’s almost got one. Meier now works for the non-profit Qatar Foundation. Teaming up with GSMA Disaster Response, an industry group for global mobile operators, and SMS social enterprise Souktel, the foundation has published Towards a Code of Conduct: Guidelines for the Use of SMS in Natural Disasters.

The document contains common-sense recommendations of use to aid agencies, technologists, crisis mappers, media development organisations – and anybody else interested in using SMS communications in a crisis.

I’ve taken the liberty of distilling the guidelines down to “Ten Commandments” that seem most pertinent in light of the Haiti experience and subsequent disasters:

S'pore Red Cross opens school in tsunami-hit Japanese town - Channel NewsAsia

S'pore Red Cross opens school in tsunami-hit Japanese town - Channel NewsAsia: SINGAPORE: The Singapore Red Cross has opened a S$5 million nursery school in Shichigahama, Japan.

The town was hit by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

The Shichigahama Toyama Nursery School was set up in 1975 and was badly damaged in the disaster. It was later rebuilt.

Rap Star's Shuttered Haiti Charity Sued Over $100,000 Debt - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Rap Star's Shuttered Haiti Charity Sued Over $100,000 Debt - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: hospitality firm is suing Yele Haiti, the defunct foundation run by hip hop artist Wyclef Jean, claiming the charity stiffed it on a contract to provide job training for Haitians, reports the New York Daily News.

Students' Boston Strong fundraiser takes off in 'insane' way

Students' Boston Strong fundraiser takes off in 'insane' way: Emerson College students' contribution to the One Fund has taken off in a way that's "absolutely insane," according to one of the undergraduates behind the idea.

AT&T gives $50,000 for West disaster relief � Standard-Times

AT&T gives $50,000 for West disaster relief � Standard-Times: SAN ANGELO, Texas — As part of its support for the victims of the plant explosion in West and their families, AT&T made a $50,000 contribution to the Texas Disaster Relief Fund to support relief and recovery efforts.

1 | The Story Of Superstorm Sandy Through The Eyes Of NYC's Digital First Responders | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

1 | The Story Of Superstorm Sandy Through The Eyes Of NYC's Digital First Responders | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation: Superstorm Sandy struck New York on October 29th, 2012. Six months later, the city’s digital first responders recall how they sprang into action, quickly disseminating information and helping to save lives.

Time running out for Belmar's successful 'Buy a Board' campaign | NJ.com

Time running out for Belmar's successful 'Buy a Board' campaign | NJ.com: The “Buy a Board” campaign began as simple attempt to help offset a small portion of the borough’s cost to rebuild its 1.2-mile boardwalk after it was wiped out by Hurricane Sandy.

But Belmar officials did not expect the kind of response that this novel fundraiser would receive.

Hong Kong refuses to send quake aid - The Japan Times

Hong Kong refuses to send quake aid - The Japan Times: Lawmakers said they wanted to help the victims but opposed giving money to government officials because of fears about corruption and misuse of funds.

They said they would prefer that the funds be channeled to aid groups and NGOs.

Pink Box Burlesque puts on disaster relief charity show | TuscaloosaNews.com

Pink Box Burlesque puts on disaster relief charity show | TuscaloosaNews.com: Tuscaloosa's Pink Box Burlesque will perform a charity show for disaster relief Saturday at Green Bar. The “Weather or Not” charity show ticket sales will benefit Tuscaloosa Disaster Relief Fund.

With 62 dead, Kenya must end drought-flood cycle - Red Cross

With 62 dead, Kenya must end drought-flood cycle - Red Cross: NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - With 62 dead and almost 90,000 displaced by floods, Kenya’s new government is coming under pressure to improve its response to natural disasters.