Pocono News Section

Social Networking Powering Earthquake Donations

Social Networking Powering Earthquake Donations - Monday, January 18, 2010 at 5:45PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Monday, Jan 18, 2010 @ 05:45pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- People here at home are finding innovative ways to help those suffering in Haiti. Some say social networking sites like Facebook are changing the game when it comes to raising money for disaster relief.

A candlelight vigil was organized by high school senior Annie Rowland. She expects hundreds to gather, each paying $5 to support Compassion Weavers. ItÕs an organization founded by a priest who does mission work in Haiti. And much of this was organized and publicized on Facebook.

When the earthquake struck, some of the first images didn't come from TV crews, they were sent by average people using social media sites like Facebook. And now as the relief effort ramps up, folks are turning to Facebook again to help.

Rowland said, "I went home and created the Facebook page and that night I already had 100 people join the group wanting to help."

Rowland, a Senior at Scranton Prep, created the Scranton Aid for Haiti Facebook page. It now has over 600 members. Annie updates it with messages from her mother, who is treating survivors in Haiti.

"So many people have Facebook. It's a great way to get the word out," she said.

University of Scranton Marketing Professor Dr. Kennth Lord said, ÒIn the event of a catastrophe like this there are few more efficient ways to spread the word than thru networks that have countless numbers of users."

According to Facebook, the site has 350 million members. The average user spends nearly an hour on Facebook each day. Lord says that makes it a quick and free way to get attention. "In prior days before the explosion of social networking, such opportunities were restricted to people who had the ear of the conventional media.

Annie and friends are using the site to organize a fundraiser. Hundreds of users have replied that they will attend Monday night's candlelight vigil.

"Any other way we would have done it, we'd have to go through the newspaper phone calls, which we did do, but the internet has so many more connections,Ó said Rowland.

Facebook is such a force that former President Bill Clinton recorded a video calling on Facebook users specifically to donate money. As always Facebook is warning users to be careful before donating to a charity you're not familiar with.