Posted on 08/31/2003 12:59:22 PM PDT by pttttt
Pro-Lifers Ensure Pampered Chef Profits No Longer Support Abortion
By Candi Cushman
Pro-life moms working for The Pampered Chef — the nation's largest direct-sales kitchenware company — have scored a major victory against the abortion industry by stopping pro-abortion donations from one of the world's largest megacorporations, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Headed by billionaire Warren Buffett, one of the abortion industry's top financiers, Berkshire is a conglomerate of corporations including The Pampered Chef, Dairy Queen and Fruit of the Loom. For years, the company has funneled millions of its profits into The Buffett Foundation, which in turn bankrolls several "reproductive rights" groups.
Citizen revealed in June ("Stirring the pot," page 22) that, in 2001, the $9 million received by the foundation constituted more than half of Berkshire's contributions under its charitable giving program (over $16 million).
That upset hundreds of pro-life moms who comprise a large portion, if not a majority, of Pampered Chef's 70,000-plus-member sales force. One of those moms — Cindy Coughlon, a 33-year-old Arizona sales consultant — launched a petition challenging Buffett to "consider what kind of a world you will leave where human life is so devalued that 'excess' humans are considered disposable."
After Citizen brought her efforts to light, hundreds of sales consultants, called Chefs, responded by signing the petition and letting Buffett know they would no longer generate profits unless he could guarantee the money would no longer pay for the murder of preborn children.
Apparently, their efforts had an impact on Buffett's bottom line. Berkshire made a stunning announcement on July 3 that it had "terminated" its shareholder contributions program, which has donated about $197 million since its inception two decades ago.
" … (C)ertain of the donations, including some made by Berkshire's chairman, Warren Buffett, have caused harmful criticism to be directed at Berkshire's new subsidiary, The Pampered Chef," the company said in a written statement. "... These circumstances caused Berkshire directors to decide to eliminate the contributions program."
On the same day, Doris Christopher, the founder of Pampered Chef, who had previously downplayed pro-life Chefs' concerns, issued a statement explaining that: "this week I went to Warren with a heavy heart. I told him that many of our Kitchen Consultants were concerned and troubled with Berkshire Hathaway's donation policies — specifically the contributions to pro-choice organizations and to the Buffett Foundation. ... Effective immediately, Berkshire Hathaway will cease all corporate contributions of any kind to any non-profit organization. This means there will be no donations from Berkshire Hathaway to the Buffett Foundation."
That's welcome encouragement for the pro-life Chefs who, for the last several months, have battled claims that they're too small to take on a billionaire like Buffett. But this event provides "clear and convincing evidence to the contrary," Coughlon told Citizen.
"This is the David and Goliath story of the business world," Coughlon said. "Now I can actually point to a specific incidence when a relatively small but persistent and motivated group of people stood up and truly acted with the courage of their convictions. These women just poured their hearts out ... they were on their knees, they were praying, they were writing ... and, in fact, Warren Buffett made a change."
WHO TO CONTACT: Let Warren Buffett know you appreciate Berkshire Hathaway's decision to end contributions to pro-abortion causes through the corporation's shareholder contributions program. Write to:
Warren Buffett, CEO Berkshire Hathaway Inc. 1440 Kiewit Plaza Omaha, NE 68131
Also Contact Doris Christopher and thank her for her role in ending the contributions:
Doris Christopher, founder and chairman The Pampered Chef One Pampered Chef Lane Addison, IL 60101-5630.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2003 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.