Phillipines Typhoon Relief

Jeesh… who would have thought that a bunch of pennies could help restock a typhoon-destroyed school in the Philippines?

Fortunately, a fellow church friend, Honduras orphanage philanthropist, and 6th grade school teacher at Lyons Central School in upstate, NY did.

His name is Eric Lewis… and a few months ago after a liturgy at St. Michael’s Parish he told my mom that he thought the 6th graders at his school could help raise some relief funds for the Philippines typhoon victims by knocking on doors and asking for pennies. Within weeks the 6th graders had raised 24,500 pennies… the equivalent of $245! Continue reading 6th Grade “Penny Drive” Generates $245 in Philippines and Haiti Donations

The following is an update on our typhoon relief in the Philippines. It´s a pretty amazing story of how a 22 year old Filipina struggled to survive the flood and rebuild her family´s life.

Please note that I left out the names of my friends who sent me this update. I have also used ¨Maggie¨ as the name of the victim to protect her privacy. If you made a donation and you want to know all the details, please send me an email and let know and I will be happy to share with you.  I just don´t want to post them on the web site.

Here is the update… Continue reading This 22 year old Filipina had to SWIM to the evacuation center

Thank you to everyone who is helping us with our Philippines typhoon relief fund.

Little by little we’re getting up there. We’re now at $3,398 in donations… on our way to $4,000 by the end of next week.

As of today, we’ve sent $3,000 over so far:

• $1,000 – These funds went to Ortigas Center, Manila relief ops at Telus call center. Our contribution went into a pool of money being used to help out those in most need.
• $1,600 – These funds were going to go to relief ops in Makati at eTelecare but a life-threatening situation came up in Central Luzon. We sent the funds there to help fund a life-saving operation for a typhoon victim there. The man’s wife thought she had lost him in the mud slides that resulted from typhoon rain. She found him but his leg was infected and if he didn’t have an operation to remove it soon he would die. He had the operation and our funds are going to pay for the hospital bill and hopefully help get the family back on their feet. There’s a compelling personal story involved that I can’t post on this site for privacy reasons. If you made a donation, you received the email from me telling you about this.  We’ll send more funds to this family as we raise them.
• $400 - These funds went toward another individual emergency, similar to the story above, but in the Manila area. Click here to view the details.

Thank you to everyone who is helping by praying, donating, or just spreading the word online to your friends who may be interested in helping too.

-Greg

My friend Emma just got back from Manila. Here was an update she sent me from her perspective of things over there:

Emma (blonde) with Riza (all the way to the left) and James (all the way to the right)

“I first came to the Philippines exactly a year ago. This is now my third trip here. I consider myself a pretty well travelled individual, but I am always struck by the poverty surrounding me here and how lucky we are back home to live the way we do. Its funny how much we can take for granted until we see what others do not have an option to have.

Even though people may have less here, they always seem to be happy and have a smile on their face. The people of the Philippines are known for their politeness and hospitality. The workers at the hotel greet you whenever you pass by them and there are at least 15 to 20 people I walk by when I leave my hotel room. I have never met a more friendly people—they definitely go out of their way to make me feel welcomed in their country. I always look forward to these trips a couple times a year and have made some very good friends over the past year here. Continue reading Emma’s update from Manila

I’ve heard stories of entire neighborhoods disappearing from mudslides triggered by the typhoon rain in remote areas of the Philippines.

Riza and James are two of my friends living in Pampanga, Philippines. They're overwhelmed with the amount of help needed for the typhoon/mudslide victims. Right now, they're raising money to help fund a life-saving operation for the husband of a woman at one of the call centers James and I worked with. If you'd like to help, please say a prayer for this man or make a donation toward his operation.

Just a few days ago, one of my friends and former co-workers, James Keating, told me that several people at the call center where I used to work in Pampanga (hours away from Manila) didn’t just lose some family members — they lost their entire family in the mudslides that hit a mountainous city called Baguio.

These are people he works with now, so he’s been compelled to help in any way he can. Since James lives in the Philippines now, he’s been volunteering his time and financial support to the victims — but he’s getting overwhelmed with the amount of relief needed for these people.

I didn’t realize how bad the situation was outside of Manila — and that the typhoon took a harder toll on my friends’ families from this remote call center than it did in the Manila centers where I worked. But I’m glad I know now, because we have a real opportunity to save lives… not just help rebuild them.

Right now, according to James, the most urgent need is medical attention and cleaning supplies because of the flood-born disease that is rapidly spreading.

Because of the remote location of these mudslide victims, getting relief isn’t as available as it is in a large city like Manila. My sister-in-law, Becky, has volunteered to head-up a project that will help get these medical/cleaning supplies to James. More on this later.

In the meantime, I learned that of the people that have survived the mudslides, one man has an immediate need to have his infected leg removed before he dies.

This man was washed away in the mudslides and his wife thought she had lost him… but I believe by the grace of God he was found alive — and now he has a chance to be saved.

The man’s wife works in the Pampanga-based call center that I worked with. James told me that they’re trying to raise money to fund his operation through cake sales.

He doesn’t know how much the operation is yet, but due to the urgent need for this life-saving operation, it seems like we should prioritize saving lives over rebuilding them if we can. Therefore, this man will receive $1,600 of the funds we’ve raised at SocialDonating.org.

This wouldn’t have been possible without your prayers and donations.

I just wanted to give you an update on this and let you know that your support is truly going toward a great cause. I can’t say thank you enough for your compassion for these people that you don’t even know.

If you’ve got time to say a quick prayer for this man, pass along this story, or make a $5 donation, it can help this man more than you may realize.

Thank you.

-Greg

Morris Gage (on right) hiking through a jungle in Costa Rica

Morris Gage is one of the nicest guys I know.

He’s a good friend of my dad’s from upstate, NY — and he was a huge influence in the development of the soccer teams at my high school back in the day.

He also makes the best hot chicken jerky I’ve ever had.  My coworkers agree — last Christmas we gathered money together and tried placing an order for some of Mo’s jerky.

We were amazed that he turned us down: “Sorry guys, but I just do this for a hobby… and your order would take me about 2 weeks. Work is really busy now.”

That was the last I heard from Morris about his jerky… until 3 weeks ago. Continue reading Mo’s Jerky Puts Us Over $2,500 In Donations

Tonight, we videotaped the raffle for Rebecca’s floral painting. She donated this painting to help raise awareness for the typhoon victims. Thanks a million to all who have rallied for the victims through donations and other support. At approximately 1015pm CT, Rebecca drew one name out of my 1 gallon cowboy hat. And the winner is…

Pam Ells! From Hall, NY. Congratulations Pam. Thanks for supporting the typhoon victims.

Here’s a link to the live video of the raffle.

#Live Video of Rebecca Pulling the Winner out of a Hat#

– Dave

Cecile will put a collection jar out at her garage sale to help raise awareness and funds for Philippines typhoon victims.

My friend and coworker, Cecile, will be putting out a collection jar at her garage sale tomorrow in Austin to help raise awareness and funds for the Philippines typhoon victims.

I think that is a great example of how anyone can help out without much extra effort at all.

Who knows how much she will raise from the collection jar, but the thought is really nice… and remember, anything at all will help.

BTW, if you are in Austin, you might want to check out the garage sale yourself.  See her ad on Craigslist here.

Thanks, Cecile!

-Greg

I just had a quick MSN conversation with David, my Filipino friend. He’s one of the guys with a quote on the left side of this web site.

Anyways, David says that another typhoon is hitting Manila right now. Fortunately, he didn’t think this one is going to be as bad.

David and Velvet (one of my Filipina friends on the left side of this web site) are who I’m coordinating with to provide relief funds for the flood victims in the Makati center.

I worked with both David and Velvet for three years. They were some of my closest friends over there. They’re both admired leaders at the call center where they work — and from my experience, they’re always putting ”their people” first. That’s a big reason why I wanted to coordinate with them for our relief effort.

Anyways, a couple days ago I gave you an update on the Ortigas Center relief operation… just wanted to fill you in on the Makati relief ops (that’s where David and Velvet are). Hopefully I’ll have more info to share next week.

Please continue to keep our Filipino friends in your prayers. Hopefully this typhoon passes without causing much more damage.

Click here for info on the typhoon.  Alternatively, you can look always see the latest Philippines typhoon news on the right hand side of SocialDonating.org.

-Greg

**First Relief Update**

The first call center that I helped launch for Dell over in the Philippines was  with an outsource partner called Ambergris — located in Ortigas Center, Manila.

Only days after Typhoon Ketsana hit the Philippines, TIP team members tirelessly prepare relief goods for their affected teammates.

A year before I left Dell, Ambergris got bought out by Telus – the Toronto-based telecom. Scores of my Filipino friends from the “Ambergris days” still work at that center. One of them, who I’m working directly with to coordinate the distribution of $1,000 of our relief funds, just sent me an interesting email he received.

It looks like the information was originally intended for employees at the Canada-based Telus call center. It then got passed along to the Manila-based Telus call center… and then forwarded to me.

The purpose of the email is to provide a quick summary of the relief ops taking place in the Manila center (formerly known as Ambergris).

I wanted to share this update with you because the first $500 that we sent in relief money went to this relief operation. A second $500 will be going there as well. Hopefully more will be going as well.

With the exception of one person, I used different names to protect the privacy of the call center employees in this update.

Here’s the message:

Continue reading Over 300 Of Our Filipino Friends Were Just Left Homeless

Good news today: The United States Department of Agriculture just announced it will send nearly $9 million worth of rice and dry milk to the Philippines.

This donation should help provide food and drink to 438,000 “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” flood victims for 60 days.

The U.S. Agriculture Secretary said:

The food aid I am announcing today will help the people in the most need of assistance, and as a long-standing friend and partner of the Philippines, the U.S. stands ready to continue our cooperation and assistance in the future.

Get the full story here.

Art is making a free iPhone application called "FilipinoFloodRelief"

My buddy Art volunteered to create a free iPhone application for Social Donating.

It’s called “FilipinoFloodRelief” — and it’ll pretty much be the same thing as this web site, but tailored to iPhone users.

I don’t have an iPhone so I’m not that familiar with applications.

But since Art volunteered to make this app — and since it could help raise awareness to people we would otherwise not be able to reach — it’ll only help.

He just started developing  it today, so it’s not ready yet.

We’ll let y’all know when it’s ready so any iPhone users out there can check it out.

-Greg

P.S.  Get all the updates about our relief efforts — including inspiring stories from both “social donors” and typhoon victims — by subscribing to our email mailing list. Click here and enter your email address.

When I announced that I wanted to help raise funds for the Philippines typhoon victims I knew two things would happen…

• My family would help out
• My friends would help out

Sure enough, they did… and within 24 hours we had raised $500.

Today, less than 2 weeks later, we’re at $2,000. This is fantastic. I want to thank you all for your generous contributions and for spreading the word.  Every quarter DID indeed help.

To make things even better, I’ve started to receive donations from people I don’t even know. I’ll tell you their stories below. It seems like each one of them had some sort of tie to the Philippines…

For example, a “Dan” from California donated the other day. I emailed him and asked him why he donated and how he heard about us. Here’s what he said:

Hi Greg I was reading on the web then I saw your story I have relatives in Vigan  I  know  how  wonderful  the  people in the Philippines are and they seem to be neglected by most of the world that I thought the least I can do  is donate something I am glad I saw your site and I will tell others Thanks for caring about the Philippines.

Then, after the KVUE broadcast the other night I received several donations from fellow Austinites that I don’t know.

Judy saw our story on KVUE and decided to get involved!

Judy shared that she has friends in the Philippines who she thinks about all the time. She donated both prayers and money.

Here’s what she left on the “Prayer Wall” of our Facebook group:

Just wanted to say I too have friends in the Philippines who were devastated by Typhoon Ondoy. I check the weather everyday there to make sure my dear friend is safe. I donated a little money, I’m sorry it wasn’t more, but everyone there is in my prayers each and every day. Please be safe everyone…

Another “social donor” who discovered us on KVUE is Juan.

I don’t know him personally, but he’s helping the Philippines typhoon victims through his donation and by spreading the word.

I asked him how he found us and why he donated. Here’s what he said:

Well greg I saw your story on KVUE last night. But I really wish I could have donated more, I told all my co-workers about what your doing and I think they wanna help. The reason I choose to donate was just how much I saw that people over there needed basic essential everyday things. I know how fast money adds up when a lot of people pitch in little by little. Good luck with the rest of the project and god bless.

Wow, Juan was right abut how fast donations add up.

Then there’s Joanna, another Austinite who I don’t personally know.

She just got back from SE Asia and fell so much in love with it that she felt compelled to help out.

Joanna found us from the KVUE news prog

Joanna’s one of our “online volunteers” because she’s spreading the word about SocialDonating.org on her Facebook. She also donated money. Here’s what she said:

I just saw your story on KVUE. I was just in SE Asia. While I did not get directly affected by the typhoon, hearing the stories was very moving. Thanks for creating this site! I will definitely donate.

Joanna shared some cool photos with me from her travels around SE Asia. She actually didn’t even make it to the Philippines but was so moved by the other Asian countries that she wanted to get involved.

Thank you everyone and please keep spreading the word… the stories above are a testament that our efforts are indeed working.

-Greg

P.S. I really hope to have some relief updates to you all soon. We’ve got so many donor stories, it’d be nice to hear how your donations are helping.  I’m working on this and will get you updates as soon as I have them. Thanks again everyone!

Kathryn helps us get the word out to Daily Messenger subscribers

Kathryn Rybczak – from the Canandaigua, NY-based Daily Messenger — took the time to interview me last week.

Like Gwen (Chronicle Express) and Jim (KVUE News), Kathryn asked a lot of great questions and showed a genuine interest in helping us convey our message about getting relief to the Philippines typhoon victims — whether that means donating money, spreading the word online, raising funds offline, or saying a prayer for our Filipino friends.

The article is online right now and was published on the front page of one of the sections in yesterday’s edition of the Daily Messenger.  Click here to read it.

Any media attention we can get will help expand our typhoon relief efforts.

Thanks Kathryn!

-Greg

P.S. Do you want to help get the word out? Use the “Share this” button below to repost this story on your Facebook profile or email it to your friends.  Even if just 1 out of 100 of your friends gets inspired enough to do the same, it’ll help us out.

KVUE news anchor and report, Jim Bergamo, helps us spread the word about the Philippines typhoon victims who need help right now

Jim Bergamo – from the Austin, TX-based KVUE news team — took the time to interview my brother and I on Monday to help raise awareness for the Philippines typhoon victims.

The TV interview aired Monday evening and is in their online archives right now. Click here to watch the news piece and read the article.

I think they did a great job helping us tell the story.

Any media attention we can get will help expand our typhoon relief efforts.

Thanks Jim (and John, the camera man)!

-Greg