Apple partners with Red Cross for Australian bushfire relief donations

Red Cross donation

Bushfires continue to ravage Australia, drawing relief efforts from around the world. In late December Apple CEO Tim Cook announced on Twitter that Apple would donate to help efforts. Now the company is making it easier for customers in the United States and Australia to donate, through their respective Red Cross organizations.

A new banner appeared on Apple’s web site home page recently with the Red Cross logo and a link entitled “Donate to Australian Bushfire Relief.” Tapping on the link opens iTunes, where customers can donate increments from $5 to $200 by tapping on the amount and then tapping Donate.

100% of all donations go to the American or Australian Red Cross organizations, respectively. The donation is made as an iTunes purchase, and thus is linked to whatever payment method you have selected for iTunes.

Bushfires have been raging in Australia for months as the country has endured the worst drought in its history. Australian authorities are struggling to contain the massive bushfires, and international firefighters have descended on the country to lend assistances. More than two dozen people have lost their lives, more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed, and hundreds of millions of animals have perished in the fires.