The City of New Orleans will encourage people attending Mardi Gras to make donations to the City from their cell phones through PayPal Mobile. Beginning February 8, the first day of the Mardi Gras parade season, Public Services Announcements will promote the PayPal Mobile initiative to all festival-goers via radio and cable, area billboards, and public LED screens. Donors will be able to give directly to the City Services Fund by texting NOLA to 78787 on their cell phones.

"The City of New Orleans is grateful and pleased that PayPal has decided to team up with the Mardi Gras Sponsorship and Support Program," said Hon. C. Ray Nagin, Mayor of the City of New Orleans. "Donations through PayPal Mobile will help to generate funds that will be used to offset carnival- related costs like police, fire, EMS and sanitation, and help get New Orleans' economy back on track."

Donors also have the option to give directly to the City through their online PayPal accounts. A special portal is being created for the City's Web- site (www.cityofno.com) and will go live at the start of the program. Donations are tax deductible.

PayPal Mobile allows consumers to make payments and to purchase items by sending product codes via text message. The service was launched in North America last year.

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