Haiti donations exceed $355 million

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/HEALTH/01/13/haiti.earthquake.medical.risks/t1larg.haiti.health.jpg width=300 height=169]

Blake Ellis
Contributing writer, CNNMoney.com

Charities, companies, individuals and celebrities across the U.S. have been rallying together in the aftermath of the 7.0-magnitude quake that rocked Haiti last Tuesday, and their efforts are paying off.

As of Thursday evening - nine days after the earthquake struck - over $355 million in donations had been raised for relief efforts, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, a newspaper covering nonprofit organizations. The estimate is based on a survey of 35 charities contributing the largest amounts of money to Haiti.

"You've got a bad economy and a disaster outside of the U.S.," said Stacy Palmer, editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. "It makes sense that lots of people gave to the Katrina disaster in the U.S., but to give outside of the U.S. like this is remarkable, especially at a time with 10% unemployment."

The real question is whether this surge of giving will continue.

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