The A.A.A. Relief Effort – Charity Selection
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Due to the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami that recently hit Japan (described here) the A.A.A. is reaching out to their greater anime community to stand together and support Japan. We are collecting money until the end of the month (March 31st) which will be donated to a charity of your choosing. Our goal is to collect information and post it here for you so that way we all can make an informed decision of where the money will do the most good. This post will be updated as time goes on and the efforts of the charities progresses. The key here is to do the most good.
Discuss charity selection on our forums or in the comments below.
The American Red Cross (website)
About the Charity:
“Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.” (read more)
How much money do the people who need it get?
An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. (read more)
What are they doing in Japan Now?
“On Sunday, the American Red Cross will deploy a disaster management expert from its Washington, DC headquarters to Japan for a week-long mission. She will serve on a seven-person, international team focused on providing high-level support and advice to the Japanese Red Cross, which continues to lead the local earthquake and tsunami response.
To date, the Red Cross has not received any requests for blood from the Japanese Red Cross, the Japanese government or the United States State Department.
In the first 24 hours, the Japanese Red Cross dispatched 62 response teams. These medical relief teams – made up of about 400 doctors, nurses and support staff – are already providing assistance in affected areas through mobile medical clinics, as well as assessing the damage and needs of the communities affected.” (read more)
Do they offer a way to donate specifically to Tsunami Relief? – Yes
Doctors without Boarders (website)
About the Charity:
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971.
Today, MSF provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. MSF reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, to challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to advocate for improved medical treatments and protocols. (read more)
How much money do the people who need it get?
“MSF strives to operate efficiently and to minimize fundraising and administrative costs. Between 1995 and 2009, MSF-USA allocated more than 85 percent of its expenditures to MSF’s social mission–programs and public education activities. Maintaining this standard is a high priority for us.” (read more)
A simple way to put this is a little more than 0.85 cents of every dollar goes to the programs Doctors Without Boarders engages in.
What are they doing in Japan now?
“The Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) team sent to the area devastated by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in northeast Japan continues to assist in the massive government-led relief effort. The team has expanded to 10 people working in Miyagi Prefecture, and additional personnel will head towards the area on Monday.
“On Sunday, we conducted mobile clinics and assessments in two evacuation centers,” said Mikiko Dotsu, the coordinator of the MSF team. “It appears that medical needs are increasing in evacuation centers.”” (read more)
Do they offer a way to donate specifically to Tsunami relief? – No
Save the Children (website)
About the Charity:
“Save the Children serves impoverished, marginalized and vulnerable children and families in more that 120 nations. Our programs reach both children and those working to save and improve their lives, including parents, caregivers, community members and members of our partner organizations. We help save children’s lives, protect them from exploitation and assist them in accessing education and health care.
Through disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, rapid humanitarian relief and long-term recovery programs, Save the Children also assists millions of girls and boys at risk of or affected by natural disasters, conflicts and ethnic violence.” (read more)
How much do the people who need it get?
“In fiscal year 2009, 90 percent of all expenditures went to program services. That percentage is an average for all of Save the Children’s programs worldwide; the percentage spent on in any particular program may vary.”(read more)
A simple way of saying this is that 0.90 cents of every dollar goes to programs they are engaged in.
What are they doing in Japan now?
“Save the Children has sent emergency response teams to assess the needs of children and their families in the worst affected tsunami areas between Miyagi Prefecature and Tokyo in Japan.
“We’re looking to set up child-friendly spaces in the worst affected areas. These spaces provide children with an opportunity to play safely with other children while freeing up their parents to work on the recovery,” added McDonald.
Save the Children has been operating in Japan for 25 years.” (read more)
Do they offer a way to donate specifically Tsunami relief? – Yes
International Medical Corps (website)
About the Charity:
“International Medical Corps focuses on the delivery of community-based primary health care. We emphasize training and education, and prioritize hiring local staff – in fact, 96% of our field-based staff and health professionals are recruited from the local community. This helps to ensure that skills and knowledge are passed on and remain long after our programs have ended. Through the integration of specialties like emergency medicine, women’s health, nutrition services, water and sanitation, and mental health into the primary health care setting, we ensure that those we serve receive holistic, comprehensive care. The value of International Medical Corps’ integrated approach to community health and well-being and our emphasis on capacity building through training are critical for the long-term growth of conflict and natural disaster-affected communities and fragile states.” (read more)
How much do the people who need it get?
Another way of saying this is that 0.92 cents of every dollar goes to their efforts.
What are they doing in Japan now?
“International Medical Corps has deployed an emergency response team to Japan, following an 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s coast, triggering a tsunami that devastated northern parts of the country and put a tsunami warning in effect for much of the Pacific.
“We are putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities,” said Nancy Aossey, President & CEO, International Medical Corps. “While Japan has a large capacity to manage a disaster of this scale, we will respond as needed.”” (read more)
Do they offer a way to donate specifically Tsunami relief? – Yes (This one is slightly tricky, they offer a way to donate to their emergency response fund and imply that it is going to Japan, but don’t specifically say it is.)
Global Giving (website)
About the Charity:
“GlobalGiving is changing the way people give, offering donors a transparent, high-impact giving experience. You choose where you want your money to go, and we get it there, quickly and efficiently.
GlobalGiving enables you to fund the underdog. We give access to new sources of funds to creative ideas and projects that might never be funded through traditional structures and development and philanthropy approaches.” (read more)
How much do the people who need it get?
Global Giving says that they take a 15% “fulfillment fee” meaning the cost of operations. This means that 0.85 cents of every dollar goes to the charities. But it’s important to remember that since global giving is only re-distributing each charity will take their own operating cut as well.
What are they doing in Japan now?
“This project will disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. GlobalGiving is working with International Medical Corps, Save the Children, and other organizations on the ground.” (read more)
Global Giving currently has a goal of:
Total Funding Received to Date: $544,075
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $305,924
Total Funding Goal: $850,000
By my understanding they will redistribute this to other charitable organizations as needed.
Do they offer a way to donate specifically Tsunami relief? – Yes
