Many athletes have been sought for and utilized at charity fundraisers. They have signed autographs, endorsed various apparel, had their pictures taken, played golf or tennis with sponsors or attendees, autographed auction items, and participated in a host of others. Telecommunications has provided another medium for charity fundraising. Athletes have provided their names, likenesses, voice prompts, and even works of art to prepaid phonecards.

Collectible athlete phonecard series supporting charities
Four world-class volleyball players were among six outstanding athletes who provided their names and likenesses in a collectible series of prepaid phonecards. Rose Magers was one of the silver medalists in volleyball (1984). Danielle Scott was one of the bright stars along with Bryan Ivie in 1996. Dennie Shupryt-Knoop has been a long-time beach volleyball player with Women’s Tour. The other athletes included Yue Ling Chin who was China’s first Olympic gold medalist in race walking (1992). Last, but not least, Julie Foudy was one of the gold medalists in soccer (1996).

Each of these athletes donated the right to use their pictures on a collectible series of prepaid phonecards to support the following charities: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Women’s Sports Foundation, Help Hospitalized Children, and the National Kidney Foundation. Support sponsors included Teletrust and Global Network Exchange (who provided the phonecard minutes), Global Affinity Group (who provided the marketing), Worldwide Digital (who provided the card production), and Intele-CardNews (who provided the event for this celebrity athlete phonecard promotion). These sponsors were also acknowledged on the voice prompts. The promotion of this collectible series was showcased at the 1996 International Intele-Card Show in Miami.

This program also involved another phase. Each of these six athletes autographed a limited number of phonecards. Sets of these autographed cards were provided to each of the above charities as auction items and as an additional source of revenue.

Separate athlete cards supporting the development of volleyball
The next fund-raising program actually sprang out of the above program. This program involved Rose Magers and Danielle Scott in fundraising for the development of volleyball. Rose and Danielle wanted to give back to the sport that had richly provided them with tremendous opportunities for growth, development, and education. What better way than to help aspiring volleyball programs fundraise.

Rose and Danielle donated their names and likenesses to support junior club and high school volleyball programs’ fundraising efforts across the United States. The front of the prepaid phonecard was created from action shots of Rose Magers during her professional career in Japan. This card has been used to fundraise for the Rocket City Volleyball Club of Huntsville, Alabama. Currently, another prepaid phonecard for Danielle Scott is being developed.

Other volleyball fundraising prepaid phonecard programs can be developed using Rose’s or Danielle’s picture and customized with the specific volleyball club’s or school’s name in the voice prompts. One example of a voice prompt states: “Thank you for supporting the Rocket City Volleyball Club.” For additional information, contact Ruth Nelson at brvc inc (888-884-2782). The programs can be easily developed and simply administered. In no more than thirty days, a team can receive their prepaid phonecards and begin their fund-raising campaign.

Many more professional and world-class athletes and celebrities might be open to such fundraising opportunities. This might be especially true if the athletes or celebrities know that the money raised would go to a worthy cause or to the charity of their choice. Make the call and add prepaid phonecards to your fundraising options...allow athletes to participate and provide fundraising power.


Edited article by Ruth N. Nelson “A Good Call.” Volleyball. (August 1997): 16.