Skip to main content

Use Android Pay for a good cause: Google donates $1 per purchase to special education

Android Pay
Image used with permission by copyright holder
In the spirit of the holidays and to boost usage of its Android Pay platform, Google announced a holiday campaign where the company will donate up to a million dollars to support the 6.4 million children in the education system with special needs.

Each time someone uses Android Pay, from now until December 31, the company will donate $1 — until it hits $1 million — to special needs education projects. The campaign is a push from Google’s charitable arm, Google.org, which is teaming up with the Android Pay team and DonorsChoose.org.

DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for teachers to post classroom project requests and for people to support them through donations. Once a project is funded, the company ships the materials — ranging from pencils to microscopes — to the teacher.

On Black Friday, the Google’s donation will double for every purchase made with its mobile payment system.

“Teachers spend nearly $500 out of their own pocket each year to outfit their classrooms with enriching projects and programs,” said Sherice Torres, marketing director for Android Pay, in the blogpost. “Since each student learns differently, let’s support special needs classrooms across the country to make education more inclusive for every kid.”

Though Google Wallet has been around for a while, Google launched Android Pay in September. It’s a more secure tap-and-pay service that requires NFC and is built into the Android framework. Unlike the old Wallet app, for Android Pay, you only need to have your phone unlocked to pay with your phone. Simply place it on the credit card terminal (if it has a NFC logo) and that’s it, you’re done. The fingerprint sensors on new Android flagships bring added security, too.

Google says more than 1 million locations accept Android Pay, but with Apple Pay building interest in contactless payment, NFC adoption could rise. Mobile payment company Square announced recently that it will now accept mobile payments, thanks to a new contactless reader and chip-card reader. The new feature is being tested with 100 local businesses in major cities such as New York and Chicago.

While adoption is growing, many banks and businesses are lining up to support mobile payments. You can check if your bank supports Android Pay here, and you can grab it on the Play Store for Android here.

Editors' Recommendations

Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
The best Google Pixel 8a screen protectors in 2024
A photo of someone holding the Google Pixel 8a.

The Google Pixel 8a is Google's latest smartphone, and while it's not a match for Google's flagship phones, the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, it's not meant to be. The Pixel 8a is a midrange powerhouse, with the Tensor G3 processor, a showstopping camera, and the advanced smarts of Google's Gemini Nano AI model.

But none of that is worth squat if you can't see it. The display is a vital part of any smartphone, and the Pixel 8a's 6.1-inch OLED panel is a beauty. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, and a much higher brightness to boot, making it the equal of some of the best phones you can grab in the midrange market. But all that tech should be protected. Here are the best Google Pixel 8a screen protectors to keep your phone's screen safe from scratches, dirt, and smears.

Read more
Apple made an outrageous change to its new iPads
An official photo of the 2024 iPad Air.

After a year-long drought of iPads, Apple finally revealed the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models during its Let Loose event on May 7. This was a unique announcement because it broke some old traditions; the iPad Air now comes in two sizes: an 11-inch and 13-inch, just like the iPad Pro. But these new iPads are also breaking another longtime tradition: They won’t come with iconic Apple stickers. Gasp.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple Store teams received a memo where Apple explained that the iconic Apple stickers won’t be included inside the boxes of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. The reasoning? As part of Apple’s environmental goals, it is trying to ensure that its packaging is completely free of plastic.

Read more
The 5 best AirTag alternatives for 2024
Chipolo ONE 2020 attached to keys in hand.

Losing material goods is an inevitable part of life, but that doesn’t mean we should just lay down and wait for an item to disappear. Instead, we should spend our time investing in handy tracking devices. Apple’s AirTag lineup is one of the best-known options, but there are plenty of other brands to choose from, too. Whether you need to keep tabs on wallets, car keys, or other important possessions, these five AirTag alternatives are easy to set up, simple to use, and above all, reliable.

Read more