Silicon Valley’s best spring into action

Contributions represent socially conscious side of a booming economy

SANFRANCISCO A month ago, President Obama challenged tech leaders to leverage their popular platforms to help stem the growing migrant crisis in Europe. And while there are still no far-reaching solutions, Silicon Valley has put forth a large effort to provide some aid.

Google matched donations to relief organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children, eventually totaling $11 million. Facebook is providing Internet access to refugee camps run by the United Nations. Kickstarter is donating its fees for any campaigns helping the crisis.

Airbnb has started to offer travel credits to aid workers with Mercy Corps and the International Rescue Committee serving in countries such as Greece, Serbia and Macedonia, front-line areas for refugees leaving a range of war-torn countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Millions of people have been displaced due to the conflicts in their home countries. Around 1.5 million refugees are expected to eventually wind up in Germany. Obama has said he will raise the number of refugees the U.S. will accept to 100,000 in the next few years.

Thanks to technological advances, making a charitable donation to help those in need has changed from a once-laborious process to a screen tap.

For example, grocery service Instacart recently announced that its shoppers would have the option to donate food through the United Nations Refugee Agency. It said a $20 contribution would provide a family of four with a food pack that includes tuna, beef and bread.

And the United Nations World Food Program has its own app that provides food to refugee children. Share The Meal allows for one-tap donations, and 50 cents feeds one child for a day.

Technology itself has also helped shine a light on the crisis through virtual reality. Clouds

Over Sidra is a short United Nations-sponsored film shot in VR that brings viewers into a Jordanian refugee camp, creating an indelible visit that once would have been simply described in words and still photos.

While all totaled these tech-fueled contributions are still dwarfed by official government aid — to date, the U.S. has steered some $4.5 billion toward the crisis — they represent a socially conscious side of a booming Silicon Valley economy.

Thanks to technological advances, making a charitable donation has changed from a once-laborious process to a screen tap.

ELVIS BARUKCIC, AFP/GETTY IMAGES Nearly half of the estimated 12 million refugees flooding into Europe are children.

SPENCER PLATT, GETTY IMAGES President Obama has said he will raise the number of refugees the U.S. will accept to 100,000 in the next few years.