Last Tuesday the world got word that a devastating earthquake had hit Haiti. Images of rubble and injured Haitians were all over the TV and internet. Naturally the news had left an impact on people and it seemed the whole world was trying to figure out a way they could help. \n\nShortly after the news about the earthquake hit, the American Red Cross sent out a tweet letting their followers know they could help by donating $10 and all they had to do was simply text “Haiti” to 90999. By the same time the following day the Red Cross had already raised 800k. Red Cross efforts continue to be re-tweeted everyday and currently have raised nearly $20 million (and counting!) The Red Cross has also used other social media platforms to help generate awareness such as their Flickr photo stream and YouTube channel that both aid in showcasing just how crucial donations and volunteering are at this time.\n\nSocial media can be an effective tool for non-profits to bring awareness to their mission and help generate donations for their causes. For more information on the earthquake and how you can help Haiti visit http://www.redcross.org/.\n