Japanese Earthquake Relief Donations

Well, if you live in the civilized world and have access to the Internet (and that would be anyone reading this) you've seen a ton of coverage on the Japanese earthquake earlier this week.  I lived in Japan 8 years growing up and still have a number of friends either in Japan or with family still living there so I've been watching what they've been going through...  Unfortunately when you do a news search on the earthquake several of the top recent hits are warnings about charitable fund frauds (who does that??)

So, here is an excerpt from the American School In Japan Alumni new letter with some information about donations to help avoid the frauds and make sure the support goes to those in need.

Many ASIJ alumni have contacted us asking “How can I help?” Aid organizations have advised that what is most needed at this time is financial donations. There will surely come a point in which physical goods and manpower is needed to rebuild the affected areas in the north of Japan. However, at this point the situation is changing daily and professional emergency relief teams need financial support to get the goods they determine are needed on the ground and to continue their operations. ASIJ has been analyzing the best options and below are the ways we ask you to help:

From Japan

Donations to The Red Cross Japan
(http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html)

Donations to a group fund for NGOs working in disaster releif including Doctors Without Borders and Habitat for Humanity [Japanese only]
(http://www.janic.org/bokin/matomete14.php)

Donations through Citibank bank transfer
(http://www.citibank.co.jp/en/customernotices/customernoticesindex/customernoticepages/cust_031211_01.html)


From Outside Japan

Donations to the Red Cross fund for Japan
(http://www.redcross.org/)
*Donations can also be made through iTunes

Donations to Doctor's Without Borders fund for Japan
(http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate)

Donations to NGO funds through Paypal
(https://www.paypal-donations.com/pp-charity/web.us/campaign.jsp?cid=-12)

Donations through Global Giving
(http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/ or by texting JAPAN to 50555 to donate $10. The donation will be added to your next cell phone bill)

Donations to International Medical Corps
(https://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=1967 or by calling (800) 481-4462. You can also text MED to 80888 to donate $10, which will be added to your next cellphone bill)