New Orleans Seeks Text-Message Donations

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070216/D8NAQ6901.html

New Orleans Seeks Text-Message Donations

Feb 16, 7:26 AM (ET)

By BECKY BOHRER

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The cash-strapped city, which has borrowed heavily to continue operating after Hurricane Katrina, is turning to text-messaged donations in an effort to defray the costs of Mardi Gras, its premier cultural event.

City officials are working with PayPal, a money-transfer Web site, to raise cash via text-message and online giving. Costs of the Carnival celebration, which concludes Tuesday, include $4 million to $5 million for police overtime, trash pickup on parade routes and other public expenses.

The Text to Give program is to retroactively pay for the costs; it began Feb. 8 and is set to run for a year. The initial goal is to raise $1 million.


Flambeau carrier Warnell Melancon lights the way for the Krewe of Ancient Druids Mardi Gras parade as they roll through the Uptown area of New Orleans, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007. Before electricity, the torch-bearing marchers lit the floats in the night parades. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

People who want to donate using cell phone text messages would text "NOLA5" or "NOLA10" to the number 78787 if they wanted to donate $5 or $10, said Jamie Patricio, a PayPal spokeswoman. If people want to donate another sum, they would text "NOLA" to the number and be prompted for an amount, she said.

FULL story at link.

[Doondoo]

1. kick - this thread needs to get more notice

[Mnemosyne]

2. A kick for the Gulf Coast and NOLA. n/t

[youngdem]

3. Thanks to all who do this....This is a great way to help

There is no corporate sponsorship of Mardi Gras. It is the people's holiday. The police bill is expensive, but it usually pays for itself many times over in tax revenue.

Mardi Gras MUST be kept strong to keep New Orleans hopeful. The economy rotates around the schedule, and many businesses here would not exist at all if it weren't for Mardi Gras.

If you can, please give. This helps us pay for this year, so we can have police and sanitation taken care of until we start seeing money come back in tax that would allow us to pay for it again. The krewe members pay for everything else, including the floats, costumes, throws, tractors, bands, etc, so your money won't go to such things. Only keeping NOLA safe during the festival season.

Come see us. We are back, as far as tourism is concerned. Hotels are available, EVERYTHING is open (except for Mr. B's and Camilia Grille, both opening soon), the weather is great, the lines are short, and you can catch more than usual because the crowds are a little lighter (still packed though).

Thanks.