Colorado businesses and their employees are helping victims of the massive earthquake in Haiti in a variety of ways, from volunteering to work the phones for Friday’s global telethon to donating money toward relief efforts.
Douglas County-based Western Union and its foundation, employees and partners have raised more than $1.5 million to aid victims.
“This has been one of the most significant fundraising efforts in response to a disaster that we’ve ever been engaged in,” said Anna Alejo, a spokeswoman for the payment-services company.
Western Union operates in 200 countries and territories and has about 60 partner locations in Haiti. Alejo said 56 of those locations remain open. Through tonight, the company is waiving fees for wire transfers to Haiti.
“Our consumers and their families have been deeply affected by this disaster, so we want to do anything possible to help,” Alejo said.
Denver-based Qwest and its employees have pledged more than $100,000.
More than $24 million has been raised through a text-message technology provided by Denver-based mGive.
Douglas County-based TeleTech Holdings said 5,000 employees from around the globe volunteered to take calls during the “Hope for Haiti Now” telethon Friday.
“This is the our largest response to an emergency of this nature,” said TeleTech chairman Ken Tuchman. “It’s the largest globally dispersed response on six continents and includes 46 centers ranging from South Africa to the Philippines.”
TeleTech, which operates call centers and provides related services, also supported the Red Cross’ “Shelter from the Storm” telethon in 2005 to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Seven top chefs from the region are organizing a dinner fundraiser for Project CURE. The six-course dinner will be at Rioja, 1431 Larimer St., on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. and will cost $125 per person.
The chefs — Matt Anderson, John Broening, Yasmin Lozada-Hissom, Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, Max Mackissock, Alex Seidel and Jennifer Jasinski — and restaurant workers will be donating their time.
A similar event was held in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and raised about $15,000, said restaurant consultant John Imbergamo.
He said the goal is to raise $16,000 — the cost of a Project CURE container of medical supplies and equipment.
With help from the GE Foundation, Pentair Inc. and private donors, Dumont-based Innovative Water Technologies said it is sending a $25,000 Sunspring water purification system to Haiti. The company noted that United Nations officials have said clean drinking water is one of the top priorities.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
