MRM Worldwide Launches GiveItUpForHaiti.org
MRM Worldwide Launches GiveItUpForHaiti.org
NEW YORK—(February 4, 2010)–MRM Worldwide has created and launched GiveitupforHaiti.org, a digital platform through which donors can contribute money to approved charities working on Haiti relief efforts following the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck the country on Jan. 12.
The site went live just one week before the start of Lent, a season of fasting and penance observed by many Christians around the world.
“The crisis in Haiti is by no means over,” said Brandon Burns, an Associate Creative Director at MRM Worldwide New York, who also serves on the agency’s Social Responsibility Committee, which was formed last year as a think tank for corporate responsibility efforts. “The country and its residents are going to need help in months and years to come. By calling the site ‘Give It Up For Haiti,’ we’re hoping that it might also become part of how people observe Lent this year. If they give up something like smoking or lattes, maybe they can donate the extra money to Haiti through this site.”
The site consists of clickable thumb nail photos of things like a “pimp” belt or a pole-dance class. It lists the exact price of the items and asks users to give them up and instead donate its cost to the Haiti relief effort.
MRM Worldwide facilitates donations through GiveitupforHaiti.org, but when users select a charity, they are transferred directly to the secure PayPal-hosted transaction page of the organization. The primary benefactor so far is the International Rescue Committee (IRC), but MRM will be adding many more trusted charities in the coming weeks.
“We were particularly concerned about the fact that the basic needs of so many Haitians will remain unmet for a very long time,” said Marc Fleishhacker, EVP, General Manager of MRM New York. “We wanted a way to remind others about the importance of making a lasting commitment of support, regardless of the size.”
The agency’s Social Responsibility Team conceived the GiveitupforHaiti.org initiative as part of a larger “10w10” program set up by MRM New York Managing Director Corey Mitchell. It is comprised of 10 agency teams, 10 leaders and 10 plans. These communities were formed to define and advance MRM New York both internally and externally through a number of key initiatives including thought leadership, education, social relevance and operational expertise.
Creative Credits:
Group Creative Director | Doug Speidel
Design Director | Roy Eventov
User Experience Director | James King
Associate Creative Director | Brandon Burns
Associate Design Director | Joe Johnson
Senior Copywriter | Rob Pihl
Technical Director | Sune Kaae
Senior Developer | Cheng Wang
Developer | Michael Tsouris
Developer | Jonathan Prins