Apple donates $1M to China NGO to assist flood relief efforts

Apple recently became the first U.S. company to donate to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA), a non-governmental organization helping with flood relief efforts after heavy rains impacted millions along the Yangtze river region.

The CFPA announced taking receipt of a 7 million yuan (approximately $1 million) donation from Apple on Monday, saying it plans to work with the company to allocate contributions where they are most needed, reports USA Today.

"Our thoughts are with all those devastated by the flooding along the Yangtze River," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a post to popular Chinese social network Weibo.

The publication cites statistics from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, saying torrential rains have affected 31 million people in over 500 towns across the region. Some one million people need emergency assistance as a result of the floods, which began in late June and continue through to today.

Apple has in the past assisted its second largest market during times of crisis. Most recently, the company contributed $1.6 million in financial aid to assist responders after a devastating earthquake hit China's Yunnan province in 2014. A year earlier, Apple donated $8 million for earthquake relief in Sichuan province.

Beyond its own corporate philanthropy, Apple routinely leverages iTunes to help customers donate to emergency efforts funded by the Red Cross. Other special promotions include events like World AIDS Day, when the company donates a portion of App Store and retail sales to the (RED) Foundation.

11 Comments

mnbob1 269 comments · 10 Years

About 8 years ago

digital_guy said:

The offering should come with numerous legal strings attached :D .

The support is being provided to CFPA. It has nothing to do with the Chinese government. The CFPA provides disaster relief in this case (which unfortunately in many cases is caused by the governments river control programs. Think Army Corps of Engineers but along a river five times longer than the Mississippi and a population along its banks equal to that of all Canada).

The normal function of the CFPA is to provide micro financing to small businesses and individuals in China to start and maintain their business. Micro finance is becoming a means to fight poverty throughout the world. Interesting that it's not being tried here in the US. Maybe it has been blocked by the large banking lobby since it would cut into their high interest loans that are not growing small businesses but instead seem to be against them?

mubaili 454 comments · 13 Years

About 8 years ago

Apple did the right thing but donate to a wrong organization. NGO really pisses Chinese government off. What Apple should do at least is donate at least same amount of money to the notorious China Red Cross which is the only official charity organization. Mang, I am worried about Apple's China effort if they cannot get even this kind of thing right.

Rayz2016 6957 comments · 8 Years

About 8 years ago

mubaili said:

Apple did the right thing but donate to a wrong organization. NGO really pisses Chinese government off. What Apple should do at least is donate at least same amount of money to the notorious China Red Cross which is the only official charity organization. Mang, I am worried about Apple's China effort if they cannot get even this kind of thing right.

Maybe they wanted the money to actually do some good.