HP announced the launch of a pilot program that allows U.S. shoppers to donate 4 percent of the purchase price of any product to a featured charity of their choice when they purchase through the
Create Change program online at the HP Direct Store.
The objective of the program is to harness HP customer purchasing
power to help make a difference in communities throughout the world. By
buying any product at the HP Direct store through the Create Change
portal at www.hp.com/go/createchange,
customers can support a range of charities in the areas of
conservation, education, enrichment systems, healthcare support,
disaster recovery and the battle to fight worldwide poverty.
Contributions can be made to seven worldwide organizations: American
Red Cross, CARE, DonorsChoose.org, Junior Achievement, Make-A-Wish
Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and World Wildlife Fund.
As part of the initiative, customers are encouraged to raise
awareness of their cause of choice by personalizing a widget that can
be shared on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter or
MySpace. Customizable widgets also are available for blogs and personal
websites to accelerate awareness through social platforms and encourage
others to donate when making technology purchases from HP.
“The Create Change program extends HP’s long history of contributing
to the communities it operates in, but places the decision about where
donations are made into the hands of our customers,” said Michael Mendenhall,
senior vice president and chief marketing officer, HP. “This program
provides HP a powerful opportunity to ignite social media platforms,
develop brand advocates and expand social investment in a new way.”
In 2008, HP made contributions totaling more than $46 million, with
particular emphasis on advancing education and promoting
entrepreneurship. Since 2001, HP has invested nearly $246 million in
social projects.
