This is new territory as far as I can tell: Planned Parenthood is selling a wireless phone plan so that supporters can contribute directly to the organization with every phone call. This may be even more effective than Pledge-a-Picket. Here’s the Planned Parenthood e-mail pitching the idea:
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| Dear Planned Parenthood? Supporter:Is it just us, or does it seem like we’ve become much more aware of how the little choices we make every day can add up to something greater? Even just deciding to walk instead of drive to the store, it’s just amazing how people are recognizing that each of our small, individual decisions can matter and affect real, positive changes.So we’re writing to let you know about another choice you can make. In this case, a choice that will help support Planned Parenthood’s mission to provide safe and effective health care and medically accurate information for women and families all around the world.Working Assets is proud to now offer Planned Parenthood Wireless – a cell phone service through which 10% of all your monthly phone charges goes to Planned Parenthood Federation of America at no extra cost to you. You will get great wireless service and help a great cause, simply by making a conscientious choice about your cell phone company. This special offer for Planned Parenthood supporters is available through March 31. |
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| Today, more than ever before, it’s our actions that will define what kind of people we are, and what kind of world we want to live in. By choosing Planned Parenthood Wireless, you’ll be helping to protect the right of women and families everywhere to make their own decisions about their health care and their lives. Sincerely yours, |
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P.S. – Working Assets is the progressive phone company that delivers quality phone service using the all-digital nationwide Sprint? network. Since 1985, Working Assets has raised over $50 million for progressive nonprofits, including $1.6 million for Planned Parenthood alone. |
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and 
. You can also watch it on 
Back when I was a Midwestern high school student 10-odd years ago, there was a landline phone service called LifeLine that similarly supported Christian and conservative causes. You were able to choose which particular cause you wanted your percentage to go to, so Christian radio stations and television stations tried to get their listeners/watchers to sign up (and, of course, get those LifeLine members list the media outlet as their charity).
Not that I had any say in our phone service at the time, but I quickly did the math and figured out that LifeLine minus the donation was still more expensive than AT&T or MCI, so it would be better for any potential LifeLine customers to donate the same amount of money to their favorite cause while remaining with their normal phone service. Given that, I would guess that Planned Parenthood Wireless * 90% is still more expensive than many other wireless plans.
Back when I was a Midwestern high school student 10-odd years ago, there was a landline phone service called LifeLine that similarly supported Christian and conservative causes. You were able to choose which particular cause you wanted your percentage to go to, so Christian radio stations and television stations tried to get their listeners/watchers to sign up (and, of course, get those LifeLine members list the media outlet as their charity).
Not that I had any say in our phone service at the time, but I quickly did the math and figured out that LifeLine minus the donation was still more expensive than AT&T or MCI, so it would be better for any potential LifeLine customers to donate the same amount of money to their favorite cause while remaining with their normal phone service. Given that, I would guess that Planned Parenthood Wireless * 90% is still more expensive than many other wireless plans.
With the supply of studies done on population replacement and the higher risks to children in single-parent households, I am not sure what the motivation for carrying PP’s water on this blog, which seems to usually be pointing us towards better policy. Can anyone explain this to me?
http://www.fpri.org/ww/0505.200407.eberstadt.demography.html
http://www.civitas.org.uk/pubs/experiments.php
With the supply of studies done on population replacement and the higher risks to children in single-parent households, I am not sure what the motivation for carrying PP’s water on this blog, which seems to usually be pointing us towards better policy. Can anyone explain this to me?
http://www.fpri.org/ww/0505.200407.eberstadt.demography.html
http://www.civitas.org.uk/pubs/experiments.php
cavearBettor, I think the purpose of showing this is to show a new(ish) technique in getting donations. It is a good idea, if the difference in price from straight Sprint is not too much. This is like loyalty credit cards which throw a bit of money to your alma mater or some other cause. Since many service providers without equipment (such as Virgin Mobile) have to get enough people to make a profit, more should consider this loyalty approach. I do not know much about WorkingAssets, but this kind of model would allow a more painless way of donating and would provide the receiver a steadier stream.
cavearBettor, I think the purpose of showing this is to show a new(ish) technique in getting donations. It is a good idea, if the difference in price from straight Sprint is not too much. This is like loyalty credit cards which throw a bit of money to your alma mater or some other cause. Since many service providers without equipment (such as Virgin Mobile) have to get enough people to make a profit, more should consider this loyalty approach. I do not know much about WorkingAssets, but this kind of model would allow a more painless way of donating and would provide the receiver a steadier stream.
Pro-life phone service available
(LifeNews.com) — The pro-life side of the debate also has companies that provide phone service.
Pro Life Communications offers long-distance, local phone, nationwide cellular, Internet, and will soon be adding satellite television to its lineup. The company donates all its profits to pro-life organizations, which is currently about 15% of the monthly bill customers pay.
Another company, Amerivision Communications, has been working with pro-life groups for many years. Also known as LifeLine Communications or Affinity 4, the company offers Internet services as well as wireless communications, credit cards and DirecTV service. It gives 10% back to the pro-life organization of the customer’s choice and has contributed more than $75 million to Christian and pro-life groups.
Pro-Life Communications – http://www.prolifecomm.com
Affinity 4 – http://www.affinity4.com
Pro-life phone service available
(LifeNews.com) — The pro-life side of the debate also has companies that provide phone service.
Pro Life Communications offers long-distance, local phone, nationwide cellular, Internet, and will soon be adding satellite television to its lineup. The company donates all its profits to pro-life organizations, which is currently about 15% of the monthly bill customers pay.
Another company, Amerivision Communications, has been working with pro-life groups for many years. Also known as LifeLine Communications or Affinity 4, the company offers Internet services as well as wireless communications, credit cards and DirecTV service. It gives 10% back to the pro-life organization of the customer’s choice and has contributed more than $75 million to Christian and pro-life groups.
Pro-Life Communications – http://www.prolifecomm.com
Affinity 4 – http://www.affinity4.com