I would disagree, I work with kids aged 8-14, and a new shiny phone is an object of fascination and status. They're enamored with the object itself and the interaction therewith. Of course at some point (like all new shiny) it become more about what you do with the phone, but initially that is a secondary attribute.
Also, the article states that Fundizer did the PR work for a 7% cut of whatever funds where raised... Seems disingenuous to back out after Fundizer did their-work unless they paid them 7% of what they would have raised.