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| Odette, the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2021, left devastation in many areas across Visayas and Mindanao including Surigao. (Image Source: Interaksyon/PhilStar.com) |
As part of the ongoing recovery efforts for the survivors of Typhoon Odette (internationally known as Rai), Google and its employees are providing aid in line with its commitment to crisis response in the Philippines.
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, has made a grant of US$150,000 that will go to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, an intermediary organization that specializes in distributing donations to nonprofits that work in the affected country or region. Google.org has also set up an internal Giving campaign where Googlers from the Philippines and abroad are encouraged to donate and it will be matched by the company. To date, more than US$7,409 has already been donated. Once final, the funds will go to iVolunteer, a non-government organization (NGO) that distributes donations to other nonprofits and matches volunteering opportunities between individuals and organizations. Unless specified by the donor, iVolunteer will split the donations equally between Citizens Disaster Response Center and Solar Hope. Both organizations will use the funding to provide food, drinking water, medicines, clothing, solar power kits, face masks and alcohol among others for the affected families and communities.
“It is painful to ponder the devastation caused by Typhoon Odette to many families, communities, and livelihoods in Western Visayas just before Christmas. This is yet another challenge to our nation but our solidarity will always be stronger. We hope that through our response, we’re able to aid in the ongoing recovery efforts. Google is one with our kababayans in standing up again, starting anew, and hoping for better days ahead,” said Google Philippines Country Director Bernadette Nacario. YouTube is also part of ABS-CBN’s fundraising activities dubbed as “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-ahon: Isang Daan Sa Pagtutulungan,” that will run in 100 days from different groups within ABS-CBN, starting with ABS-CBN shows and stars, with the goal of providing assistance to 100,000 affected families. Some of the activities will run on ABS-CBN’s YouTube channel and will use the YouTube donate button.
Google previously enabled similar employee-led donations campaigns in the Philippines, among which was a matching initiative launched in November 2020 for the benefit of the survivors of Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. The campaign was able to generate a total of USD100,000 in employee and corporate matching donations which went fully to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy for cash transfer programming, livelihood interventions prioritizing farming and fishery activities, enhanced health and hygiene support, and awareness for COVID-19 protection in the benefit of the affected communities.
