Mobile technology – when harnessed creatively – can be used to raise vital funds for some of the most vulnerable people in Ireland – that’s according to Threshold, who today (08.12.09) launched its new Christmas campaign, Hope Star, at a Christmas Carol singing event in Wolfe Tone Park, Dublin.
Threshold’s Hope Star Christmas campaign – which is promoted by a large life size star – is a textdonations service where by people text the word Hope to 57080 to receive a Christmas wall paper to their phone and donate €2 towards the work of Threshold. A Threshold volunteer will dress as a life size Star and walk around Dublin City to encourage people to donate their texts for the cause. The star will also appear at other locations during the month of December.
According to Bob Jordan, Director of Threshold: “This year’s Christmas campaign is a new venture for Threshold. This is the first time we have used mobile technology in our fundraising efforts and we hope that our text donations service will make it easier and more convenient for people to support the work of Threshold this Christmas.
“By making this year’s campaign more creative than previous years – through sending people a mobile Christmas wall paper when they donate to Threshold – and promoting the campaign with a large life size star we want to encourage people to support our work in a fun, convenient and creative way. It will raise much needed awareness of the work of Threshold and make people spare a thought for those who were less well off at Christmas.
“The money we raise this year will be used to support our vital services; including our housing advisors who see people on a daily basis when they are at their most vulnerable; our advocacy services who work to resolve housing problems and our access housing unit which works to place homeless people in
private rented accommodation.”
Also speaking at today’s event was Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Emer Costello: “Christmas is a time of festivity, cheer and joy. However, it is also a time when homelessness and poverty is often overlooked and ignored. People are so wrapped up in their own affairs that they forget that there are other people living in poor, cold and damp rented accommodation – people who dread going home at the end of a cold day. That is why it is so important to support organisations such as Threshold in their efforts to raise funds to prevent homelessness.”
People attending the Christmas Carol event in Wolfe Tone Park were treated to entertainment provided by the Garda Band and the Amy Band and a Threshold Choir singing traditional carols. Also, contributing to the festivities were representatives from the coffee chain Starbucks who handed out free
tea and coffee.
ENDS.
Note on Threshold:
Threshold was founded in 1978 and is a not-for-profit organisation whose aim is to secure a right to housing, particularly for households experiencing the problems of poverty and exclusion. The organisation operates a national office based in Dublin, and four regional offices. In 2006, Threshold provided advice and services to 20,000 clients.
