Category Archives: haiti earthquake relief

Love, Charity, and Basketball

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This is my new interview with businesswoman and philanthropist Heather Robinson. I co-wrote it with bloggers Amy Neumann and Mandy Hale. It is cross-posted in the Huffington Post Impact Section.

While many celebrities lend their support to worthy charities, some go above and beyond by lending their time, energy, funding, and even blood, sweat, and tears to the causes they hold dear. Oprah founded and funded the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa in 2007 to provide educational and leadership opportunities for academically gifted girls from impoverished backgrounds. And two years ago, Bill Gates made the world’s largest ever single charitable donation when he pledged $10 billion to develop and distribute vaccines to children.

In this circle of charitable celebrities, you’ll find noted businesswoman and public relations pro Heather Robinson, the wife of former NBA star Cliff Robinson. One of the sports world’s most active and involved philanthropists, she supports charities with an emphasis on education, scholarships, and poverty. This assistance also extends to natural disasters like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. All of this has been a catalyst for the Robinson Network, her family’s new philanthropic endeavor.

In fact, she used her most recent birthday party to collect more than 1000 gifts for kids through Toys for Tots. But giving up one of her special days is not a tall order or a rare event for Heather. Charity is both her work, and her signature. Why? A strong compassion for others, and a belief that using one’s influence to make a lasting, positive impact is crucial.

The old saying “Come from a point of service to everyone you meet” could have been written by Heather Robinson. To her and her husband, just like in basketball, winning is a team effort, and people around the world who need a hand are part of everyone’s team.


You’ve done lots of charity work for the NBA and NFL, and participated in a lengthy and impressive list of celebrity fundraisers. What is the most rewarding aspect of giving back?



The compassion I feel for others is a strong trait of mine, therefore having the ability and desire to “give back” in some way large or small benefits my soul. I love to see people smile.

Tell us a little bit about some of the charities you’ve supported over the years.

First of all I praise everyone out there that has a charity, and is working to help mankind. It takes a special person to devote themselves to philanthropy. My husband and I have donated our time and money to several charities over the years. Educational programs and Scholarships for low income families are very important to us, along with helping impoverished communities in the United States and abroad. After the devastating earthquake hit Haiti two years ago my husband accompanied Haitian friend Jimmy Jean Louis of Hollywood Unites for Haiti to access the condition of the country while I stayed back making phone calls after phone calls soliciting supplies and donations. I visited the country last year and met with several organizations we support in Haiti. They are doing a great job and it has inspired me to continue on my path of philanthropy.

How helpful do you find platforms like Twitter to some of your social good initiatives?

I like using Twitter. It has been extremely helpful to my business. It’s given me the ability to voice my initiatives quick and easily. Aside from the business networking, I have made “twitter friends”. I love the positive tweeters. They brighten my day and make social media more enjoyable for me.

With respect to philanthropy, name some of the things you believe we should be paying attention to moving forward: trends, interesting people, and fundraising ideas.

I don’t believe you have to be wealthy to give. It’s not always about the money. People should pay attention to their surroundings. What you see in front of you. You can become a mentor to a child or volunteer at charity events and soup kitchens. A few years ago I signed up to be a bone marrow donor. There are many ways to help someone in need. Blood drives and organ donations are great ways to “give”, and you could save a life! A very simple way to fundraise with little effort is to start a Food or Clothes drive. Poverty right here in America is extremely high and the numbers keep growing. If everyone would spend ten percent of their time “Giving Back” to society the world would be a much better place.

Heather Robinson and Cliff Robinson  

Speaking of social media…a lot of celebrities use it because it puts them in direct contact with their fans, the causes they support, and helps them control their image. What’s your take?

The Cons of using social media are crazy fans and pushy people who can bombard you with requests or try and belittle your efforts or work. But, the pros definitely out weigh the cons. Celebrities are able to link with other professionals and can interact with fans on more personal basis. Another advantage for celebrities using social media is that it measures their popularity in numbers, via follower. In return it can secure them a high-profile endorsement deal. Social Media has become one of the most important deal points for brands, talent agents and even PR agencies to consider when negotiating contracts. The best thing of all is: no misquotes (laughs). Just make sure your posts don’t come back to haunt you.

Philanthropy is a serious commitment. How are you involving your family?

I am currently working on The Robinson Network, a public charity that will support other non-profits, and promote professional athletes in their philanthropy. Giving back is something that my family has always been passionate about. So it makes sense for us to create a huge platform to positively impact the causes we endorse. We’re excited.

To find out more about Heather Robinson and her charitable efforts through her family’s Robinson Network, follow her on her Twitter feed.

A Powerful Story from Haiti (VIDEO)

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It has been almost a year since the devastating earthquake that shook the island nation of Haiti. The world responded in a big way. In fact, writer Jose Antonio Vargas reasoned earlier this year that the Haitian Tragedy helped to create the Global Citizen 2.0. Never before had the world spoke in nearly one voice to such a catastrophe. Certainly, technology aided the response. It was truly a beautiful moment.

As 2010 wore on, the “Rebuilding of Haiti” left the front pages. But it never left our collective hearts. There have been so many Haitian stories of hope and revival, and the pictures continue to be heart-stopping. This video below, courtesy of CNN, is nothing less than riveting. It’s a great story about quake survivors reuniting, and dealing with the pain of that experience. Let’s hope that stories like this will keep the world engaged into 2011 and beyond.

WATCH:

Guest Blogger: Yasamin Beitollahi

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Today’s Guest Blogger is Huffington Post blogger and marketing specialist, Yasamin Beitollahi, known in social media for her enthusiasm for technology, and her love of cooking. She graciously allowed me to share her great post with my readers. You can follow her on her Twitter feed and friend her on Facebook page. This is an awesome piece below is about what’s being done to positively impact the island nation of Haiti.

Global Aid Pours into Haiti

by Yasamin Beitollahi

Haiti is a nation plagued by diverse issues. With a population of 8 million, most of whom are living on less than one dollar per day, Haiti is considered to be the most poverty-stricken country in the Western Hemisphere. In addition to its high unemployment rate (80%), the country is also plagued by food shortages, poor drinking water, lack of education, environmental concerns and shifting culture. Adding to Haiti’s misery is the devastation caused by the strongest earthquake in more than two centuries that rocked the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, located just 10 miles northwest of the earthquake’s epicenter.

Despite all advances of science and civilization, humanity remains helpless when the worst forces of nature unleash devastation. Now, the nation’s only defense against starvation and disease consists of relief from generous lands. President Obama commented: “For a country and a people who are no strangers to hardship and suffering, this tragedy seems especially cruel and incomprehensible.”

Yet even as the earthquake has shaken us to our core, heroism and humanity strengthen the foundations of our global family. Courageous, exhausted, rescue workers, scramble through crippled neighborhoods, digging with their hands, refusing to give up on life. A worldwide outpouring of compassion and generosity now laps at Haiti’s shores, quietly defying nature’s brutality. UN data reports that at least $567.67 million has been pledged by individuals, countries, companies and international organizations to date.

2010-01-18-haiti.jpg

Soon after the earthquake struck near the nation’s capital city, Port-au-Prince, the Red Cross mobilized fund raising efforts through the social networking site Twitter.

Just before 10:00 pm (PST) on January 12, @RedCross tweeted:

“You can text ‘HAITI’

to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts in #haiti.”

As of today, donations via text message for the American Red Cross’s Haiti relief efforts reached over $21 million. Verizon Wireless spokesman Jeffrey Nelson, commented “These are donors who are typically the hardest to reach: young people. They’re reacting to something that affects them and realizing their few dollars can make a difference. Texting has opened up a whole new world for philanthropy.”

Cycling ace and humanitarian Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong foundation has pledged $250,000 to support relief charities working to rebuild earthquake-devastated Haiti. The former Tour de France champion is giving generously to help those left homeless after the disaster and he’s urging fans and friends to do the same.

In a video message posted on his website, Armstrong says,

“I think what’s on top of everybody’s mind is the earthquake in Haiti and the devastation we all have seen on television or the newspaper or the internet. Some say more than a 100,000 lives (have been) lost. On behalf of Livestrong and everybody at our organization we’d like to pledge $250,000 for the relief efforts down there for two primary organizations: Partners In Health – great friends of ours doing great work in that country – and also Doctors Without Borders.”

Alyssa Milano, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, donated $50,000 to the charity’s Haiti earthquake relief efforts, and has made a “Tweet Challenge” on Twitter asking corporations to match her donation.

The actress and philanthropist writes on Huffington Post:

“I challenge any corporation to match my $50,000 donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. 100% of every dollar will go directly to supplies that include tarpaulins, water-purification tablets, oral rehydration salts, family water kits, medical supplies, medical kits, food, shelter, and protection.”

Musician Wyclef Jean, whose homeland is Haiti, is asking people to donate to Yele Haiti to help with disaster relief for earthquake survivors. So far, Wyclef Jean’s nonprofit organization, Yele Haiti, has raised over $1 million for the victims of Tuesday’s devastating earthquake from mobile donations alone. Yele’s goal is to up that figure to $1 million a day as part of the SMS fundraising drive. With a series of urgent tweets, an appearance on CNN and the help of his famous friends the singer has mobilized a massive effort on behalf of his homeland, imploring followers to text “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 to the effort.

Virgin Atlantic is flying much-needed aid along with key medical personnel, aid agency workers and rescue teams to the region in the wake of the Haiti earthquake. The aid and personnel will be flown out on a number of Virgin Atlantic flights to Miami, Orlando and Jamaica over the coming days. From there the aid agencies will arrange for the essential supplies to be transferred to Haiti. The airline has already committed to flying a minimum of 55 tons of cargo. Virgin Atlantic is also working with a number of other charities, including Save the Children and Oxfam, to assist them in their efforts to get crucial aid supplies and personnel to the region.

WAT-AAH!, the first functional bottled water marketed to kids donated 40,000 lbs of bottled water for Haiti relief.

Though its own facilities were severely damaged by the massive earthquake, Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) field staff have been establishing temporary clinics in order to treat injured men, women, and children in Haiti. MSF was able to respond immediately because international and national staff had already been running several projects in country.

Spurred by actor George Clooney and MTV, 11 broadcast and cable television networks have signed on to air a two-hour telethon Jan. 22 that will benefit the earthquake victims in Haiti. “Hope for Haiti,” presented by MTV Networks, will air commercial-free at 8 p.m. on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 and CMT. The event, which will raise money for five relief organizations working in the ravaged country, will be hosted by Clooney in Los Angeles, singer Wyclef Jean in New York and CNN anchor Anderson Cooper in Haiti.

Haiti faces a bleak future. Its people need manpower, medicine, food and clean water. The impact of the earthquake is devastating, but the emotional and physical reverberations will wreak even more havoc if we don’t increase humanitarian aid now. The international outpouring of help displays humanity’s better angels — a global sense of grief and sympathy.

And remember the people of Haiti in your prayers. May God give them strength in the days, hours, and months ahead.

Other ways to join the outpouring of humanity for Haiti: Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, UNICEF (1-800-4UNICEF), Direct Relief, Partners in Health, World Food Program, Mercy Corps (1-888-256-1900), Lambi Fund, The International Rescue Committee, Care, William J. Clinton Foundation, Meds & Food For Kids, Feed the Children, Habitat for Humanity

These resources include the highest-rated charities by Charity Navigator, which is an independent, nonprofit organization that evaluates charity groups based on effectiveness and financial stability.