UPDATE: I’m extending the end time on this to 10:00pm EST, to give it a full 24 hours since I posted this…thank you so much to all of the people who have weighed in, and to you guys lurking out there – pick a charity!
Today, I’m going to create my own Fabulous Thing. The tracker on my little blog tells me that a fair amount of people stop by here over the course of a day, and today I’ d like to take that bit of attention on this small corner of the internet and turn it into something worthwhile.
I will say this: I’m not raising “awareness” for the Haiti Earthquake. “Awareness” doesn’t pay for water, food, medical supplies, or shelter. If you are not “aware” of what is happening in Haiti, then you are probably not reading these words right now, so it’s not you I’m addressing. If you are aware and actually want to do something about it, then this post is for you.
Here’s the first part, very easy ways to give a little bit of money to organizations that will do a whole lot with it:
Text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross, the amount will be added to your cell phone bill, repeatable
Text “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Organization, the amount will be added to your cell phone bill, repeatable
The Pioneer Woman Blog will make two $500 donations, just leave a comment on her post, see link for instructions
Donate online to:
Mercy Corps directly or via Amazon.com (easier if you have an Amazon account with a saved funding source)
Here’s the second part:
The Fabulous Household will donate $1 for every comment left on this post, voting for where to donate those dollars out of the four organizations linked directly above, up to $250.
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by 5pm tomorrow (Friday), either saying simply the name of the organization you choose or adding some detail about why you chose that one. Please feel free to share the link to this post with anyone you think will be willing to take a small step to help.
Tomorrow night after 5pm Eastern Standard Time, I will tally up the votes and make the donation to the winning organization.
Of course, I could just donate $250 and not bother any of you with it. But if a few people are led here and choose to donate a few dollars on their own…well, that’s a whole lot better, isn’t it?
So, Fabulous Thing #14: Doing something meaningful, together.
One Fabulous Thing 
I donated to MSF because they’re an established presence in Haiti and I’ve only heard good things.
I vote for MSF too! They have a long history in Haiti and people I know who have worked with them elsewhere have always spoken well of their org.
That’s great you are doing this. I donated to PIH after reading the article on ADL, and also happened upon your blog from there. Enjoying your posts.
Great idea! I vote for Partners in Health, because they were already on the ground there, have functioning clinics in other parts of Haiti, and in general do great work and have an excellent reputation. That’s where we donated.
Save the Children … how am I the first one to vote for something called “save the children”?
I donated to Partners in Health. They have a fantastic track record for providing appropriate services.
You’re not alone, Lance!
PIH. My husband did some work with them so I know they’re more functional than other NGOs I’ve worked with, and they’ve gotten many recommendations as being in the best position to do important work with the funds in this situation.
I donated through MSF as well, though I’m sure any of the above listed organizations would be good. I’m just glad people are doing whatever small fabulous thing they can.
What a great idea. We’ve donated to PIH because I really respect Paul Farmer’s work in Haiti. I vote for them.
Another vote for MSF, while personally I’m donating via a local charity.
I’ll vote for MSF, too. Good work, Mrs. Fabulous!
Great post and great idea. I might have to steal it! My vote is for MSF.
Save the Children. Thanks for doing this! You’re amazing!
Great idea! After reading about the great things PIH does, we donated to them, although I wish I could donate more to the other charities. It’s great you’ll be donating, as well!
Great idea! I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those charities, so I’ll leave it up to you.
Thank you for doing this!!!!
I donated to the Red Cross!!!!
I vote for MSF, great org.
I donated to Save the Children.
Thanks for doing this!
I’m doing the same thing ($1 per comment on my blog post from yesterday), but my donation will go to the Red Cross. My family will also send them a separate donation.
As for voting on YOUR donation, I’ll say Partners in Health. I hear very good things about them.
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and giving me the chance to discover yours!
I vote PiH …
Partners in Health.
I’ve donated to PIH – and I put a button on my website.
I’ve just donated to doctors without borders, after crying at my desk all morning looking at photos.
Thanks for the Amazon button. I kept putting off donating because my wallet wasn’t handy – that made it too easy to pass up.
Thanks for this! I vote for PIH too, we donated but I think we are getting ready to make a second one as the gravity of what’s happening sinks in.
Great idea! I vote for MSF, because they’re one of the really good orgs that I haven’t donated to yet. I personally donated to PIH already but wanted to do both, so thanks for helping me do that!
Thanks for doing this! The post has inspired me to do some research, so I choose Partners In Health.
MSF. Thanks for doing this. -Biogirl
Doctors without borders, thanks. – Yaz
I vote Mery Corps. Great Idea.
From everything I’ve heard Partners in Health is a terrific organization. This is a great thing that you are doing.
As others have noted – all four of those organizations are doing amazing things on the ground. I donated to MSF because right now – doctors are my heroes. Thanks for doing this – I’ll be pointing some others your way…
I vote PIH. (I think my family is donating to Oxfam. Usually we give to Mercy Corps, but Oxfam already had a presence in Haiti.)
I donated to Mercy Corps. Thanks for gathering us together.
Save the children
Doctors Without Borders. This is great. I was able to add onto my grocery bill today at Wegmans, and they would give the money to the Red Cross.
That’s the right thing to do
Doctors without borders. Great idea!!!
Hello!
There are so many good groups. I donated to Mercy Corps, have always liked their organization.
Love what you’re doing!
– Elyn
Consider linking up with Money Saving Mom. (moneysavingmom.com) There are a lot of blogs doing this same thing, and if you link to them they’ll give more.