Vodafone vows to raise £6m in autism charity tie

Ben Carter

April 21, 2004

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Vodafone vows to raise £6m in autism charity tie

Vodafone UK has signed up the National Autistic Society (NAS) as its first official charity and is pledging to raise £6m for related causes over the next three years.

The mobile phone firm chose the charity as it felt it could use its position as a communications company to help those with communication problems.

Vodafone will promote the NAS to its 13m customers, encouraging them to donate either regularly or a one-off payment.

The mobile operator claims to be the first to enable customers to make donations via their phone bill by texting a shortcode. A dedicated website will also be set up, with Vodafone pledging to match all customer donations received.

Later in the year Vodafone will promote the tie-up through a TV advertising campaign.

The £6m raised will go toward three projects for the NAS, including a 24-hour support programme offering help and advice on autism by phone or online.

Mark Bond, Vodafone UK's director of business marketing, is overseeing the partnership.

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Marketing