MLB, Washington Nationals use mobile to raise money for diabetic kids
July 14, 2008
Batting for kids
Major League Baseball and The Washington Nationals have launched a text-to-give campaign to raise money for the creation of a Diabetes Care Complex for the Children’s National Medical Center.
During an afternoon game July 13 against the Houston Astros, fans were invited to text the keyword NATS to short code 90999 to give $5 to support the work of the Children’s National Medical Center to fight pediatric diabetes. Anyone can donate between July 10 and July 31.
“The Washington National Medical Center helps kids with diabetes,” said Mark Miller, director of philanthropic marketing communications for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington. “The Washington Nationals have donated $2 million for the center but we need $5 million to build it. They have offered to help us raise the rest.”
The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation has made the Children’s National Medical Center one of its key partners in the Washington community. All donations made on July 13 will help fund the project.
The Mobile Giving Foundation is enabling the mobile channel for this charitable giving. It is providing the organizational layer, operational guidelines and technical infrastructure for nonprofit organizations and donors to use the power of mobile technology.
The foundation has enabled mobile giving for other charities and nonprofits such as United Way, PBS, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Keep a Child Alive, IFAW and Amnesty International.
Here's how it works.
The Mobile Giving Foundation is like the glue between a charitable giving campaign, the wireless industry and the more than 255 million wireless users in the United States.
The foundation processes applications from nonprofits and develops campaigns in conjunction with established mobile marketing firms. Its messaging platform is used by wireless carriers through their SMS service centers.
All the funds collected by carriers are passed through to the Mobile Giving Foundation. It deducts messaging and short-code costs and provide nonprofits with 90 percent to 95 percent of funds collected.
Children's National Medical Center, located in Washington, develops innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury.
The center's team of pediatric healthcare professionals cares for more than 360,000 patients each year who come from throughout the region, nation and world.
Serving as an advocate for all children, the center is the largest non-governmental provider of pediatric care in the District of Columbia, providing more than $50 million in uncompensated care.
In addition, the center serves as the regional referral center for pediatric emergency, trauma, cancer, cardiac and critical care as well as neonatology, orthopaedic surgery, neurology and neurosurgery.
“Mobile is ideal for this type of initiative because everyone has a mobile phone, which increases the probability that someone will make a donation,” Mr. Miller said. “Additionally, it’s an easy process.”