Time-poor Aussies are looking for more convenient ways to contribute to their favourite charity and Vodafone research shows there’s a growing expectation for companies to make donating easier.

The research found that more than half of Australians believe brands should make it easier for customers to contribute to charitable causes. Furthermore, 78 per cent of people consider the contribution that a brand makes to the community when making purchasing decisions.

Vodafone is the first Australian mobile company to launch altruistic phone plans, meaning customers can give back to the community without having to sacrifice their own time, or money.

Vodafone’s 24-month Capped Contracts now offer a bonus option to donate five percent of their Cap towards Conservation Volunteers Australia or UNICEF, while still receiving the same headline value. Alternatively, customers can use bonus option for their own benefit, by choosing to receive 100 Vodafone-to-Vodafone minutes, 100 free texts or half price international calls.

Ramana James, Corporate Responsibility Manager Vodafone Australia said that Vodafone aims to lead corporate responsibility in the Australian telecommunications industry. “Vodafone has a direct relationship with over 3½ million Australians, meaning we’re in a great position to make it simpler and easier for customers to contribute to our community.

“This initiative is part of a broad corporate responsibility program at Vodafone designed to give back to the community and environment, as well as ensure we are acting responsibly towards our people, in the marketplace and the world around us,” he said.

Over the course of a 24 month contract, these donations will:

• $49 Maxi Cap - plant 10 trees OR provide 147 children with a pencil and exercise book
• $79 Super Cap - plant 20 trees OR immunise 557 children against polio
• $99 Mighty Cap - plant 25 trees OR provide water purification tablets, giving clean water to 825 children
• $149 Mega Cap - plant 35 trees OR provide a clean water kit to meet the needs of 14 families

Carolyn Hardy, UNICEF Australia Chief Executive said, "Vodafone customers can support the world's most vulnerable children through this initiative. This contribution as part of your monthly phone bill will make an important difference to the life of a child who needs it most.”

Sam Robinson, Corporate & Government Affairs Manager at Conservation Volunteers Australia said, “We are proud to expand our partnership with Vodafone to identify innovative methods for the broader community to access and support the environment in practical, action-oriented ways.

“Vodafone’s simple yet altruistic new initiative allows busy people to volunteer their donation support rather than their time, and in doing so, helps us get more trees in the ground. People can feel good about their choices as they will positively impact our climate and our environment,” he said.

Vodafone encourages customers not to stop at making donations, offering tips for customers on how they can minimise the environmental impact of their own mobile phone:

• Pull the plug: Ninety-five percent of energy used by the phone chargers in this country is wasted. They are only charging the phone for five percent of the time they are used.
• Phone back: Recycle your mobile phone; there are an estimated 10 million unused mobile phones lying around homes and offices in Australia. MobileMuster is the official national recycling program of the mobile phone industry in Australia and there is a collection point in most Vodafone stores.
• Lose the paper: Choose a paperless billing option and have your bills delivered to you electronically by email. Call 1555 from your Vodafone mobile to make the change.

For more information on Vodafone’s CR initiatives visit www.vodafone.com.au/responsibility.

For more information please contact:

Jessica Forrest, Vodafone Australia on 0419 933 920 or jessica.forrest@vodafone.com
Laura Keith, Pulse Communications on 0405 534 955 or laura@pulsecom.com.au

* Research commissioned by Vodafone Australia, undertaken by AMR Interactive. A total of 2,010 respondents completed the online Omnibus study. Data was weighted by gender, age, region ad type of internet connection (at home or elsewhere) to ensure sample representativeness to the Australian population. Data collection took place over the period 20 July to 26 July 2007.

About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile telecommunications group with equity interests in 27 countries and 33 partners across 5 continents. The company prov ides quality services to 3.68 million Australian customers and has more than 200 million proportionate customers worldwide.

© Vodafone Pty Limited 2007: VODAFONE and the Vodafone logos are trade marks of the Vodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trade marks of their respective owners.

About Conservation Volunteers Australia
Conservation Volunteers is Australia’s leading practical conservation organisation. Since 1982, Conservation Volunteers has managed over 10,000 volunteers each year in practical conservation projects for the betterment of the Australian environment. To date, Conservation Volunteers have planted over 16 million trees and you can help them continue that work. Wherever possible, your support will be directed toward creating a network of carbon forests. Where appropriate, carbon forests will be submitted for accreditation by the Australian Greenhouse Office – that means independently audited projects, with annual targets & published results. It is estimated that on average, every 5 trees planted will result in a tonne of carbon being captured and stored over a period of 70 years. Ultimately these forests will create a valuable habitat for koalas, rock wallabies and wedge tailed eagles.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund and is the world’s leading advocate for children. UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s larges t provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and HIV/AIDS. UNICEF is non-political and provides aid to children on a non-discriminatory basis based on need and has no religious, racial or political affiliations. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF is the world’s leading children’s aid agency. UNICEF works with more children in more countries than any other aid agency, to make a lasting difference to the lives of women and children around the world.