The Jalisco Cruz Roja held a modest celebration in Guadalajara’s Parque Morelos to mark World Red Cross Day on May 8, but the organization remains beset by a lack of funds.
In an effort to encourage donations, telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim pledged to match any amount given by Telmex customers in the month of March. By dialing *6565 from residential land lines, callers could select a precise amount ranging from 50 to 500 pesos per call, up to a cumulative total of 2,000 pesos.
The Cruz Roja hoped to receive five million pesos from the initiative, but the average amount pledged has been just 65 centavos (300,000 pesos in total), so the donation period has been extended until May 31.
When you dial *6565, a recording in Spanish will immediately thank you for calling to help the Cruz Roja. You’ll then be instructed to press 1 to donate 500 pesos, 2 for 300 pesos, 3 for 150 pesos, 4 for 100 pesos and 5 for 50 pesos. The donation will show up on your next telephone bill and be matched by the Carlos Slim Foundation.
The Cruz Roja needs 100 million pesos annually to operate in Jalisco. A Mitofsky survey found that 69 percent of the population has received the help of the Cruz Roja at some point in their life.