Apple today rolled out a feature through the iTunes Store that allows users to contribute to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts following the Nepal earthquake that has killed over 2,400 people.
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The feature leverages the hundreds of millions of credit cards already on file to allow iTunes users to easily donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $200 to the relief efforts. Apple will be passing along 100 percent of the donations to the Red Cross.
Aid Nepal
Donate in iTunes
#iTunes #Nepal #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/s9seJp8RZV
— Philip Schiller (@pschiller) April 26, 2015
This is not the first time Apple has used to iTunes Store to raise money for charity, with the company most recently raising money for City of Hope last October. Other previous relief effort fundraising campaigns have included the 2013 Philippine typhoon, the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, and the 2010 Haitian earthquake.
Top Rated Comments
So the real question is does apple still get their usual 30 percent vig?
Can you read?
Nepal experienced a horrific earthquake of 8.2 back in 1934, and over 19,000 people were killed.
A lot of the damage and death in both events was caused by poor building construction. When I look at many pictures, I don't see any reinforcement steel rods in the fallen brick buildings. I hope that, going forward, buildings will be constructed with earthquakes in mind. Reinforced brick walls, and possibly more wooden construction, which can withstand swaying of the land beneath.
I know that Nepal and surrounding areas is a poverty area, and that they've done the best with what they have, but let this terrible event be a turning point. They are on the right track. Just a week before this event, a team of experts around the world met in Nepal to discuss earthquake preparedness. May that mission push forward to some positive changes.
If the Red Cross would stop the telemarketing calls from the last time I gave, I might give again...
Then this may be a good way to give, since Apple promises to keep your identity secret from the Red Cross.
So the real question is does apple still get their usual 30 percent vig?
The real question is: Can you read?BTW. Many people are using gift cards that they have purchased for less than face value. If you have a $50 gift card that you purchased for $40, and use it for a $50 donation, the Red Cross will get $50, while you spent $40, and Apple actually received $40 minus the cut of the shop that sold the gift card to you.
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does the email from apple constitute documentation of the charitable contribution for tax purposes?
People need help now. Worry about your taxes later.