Wyclef Jean Helps Raise $1 Million -- So Far -- For Haiti

So far, WYCLEF JEAN's nonprofit organization, YELE HAITI, has raised over $1 million for the victims of TUESDAY's HAITIAN earthquake from mobile donations alone, reports MTV NEWS. "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." http://kirktanter.blogspot.com/2010/01/wyclef-jeans-organization-needs-your-to.html

MIAMI-based GIVE ON THE GO CEO ALBE ANGEL, who is partnering with YELE HAITI, says the organization has raised over $1 million for relief efforts since the earthquake. YELE's goal is to up that figure to $1 million a day as part of the SMS fundraising drive.

"Since the disaster occurred around 5p Eastern on TUESDAY and [by] MIDNIGHT [WEDNESDAY] we cleared $1 million," said ANGEL, whose company provides the technology that allows mobile users to make an automatic $5 donation. GIVE ON THE GO has announced that 100% of the donations raised will go directly to YELE HAITI. More than 200,000 people have donated to the cause, and ANGEL said he thinks it's possible that the $1 million per day goal could be reached, given the volume of donations that have been coming in.

"These types of donations really were spawned by the [2004] tsunami relief effort, and the $1 million that YELE has raised already is a watershed event," added ANGEL