American Girl -"I can" campaign promotes Roe

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Originally Posted by Jaded27
*I know how you meant it, but this made me laugh out loud at work just now. 😃 *
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I’ve had AG dolls since I was a little kid. They’re great. I don’t think I’d stop buying a product just because the company discusses abortion. I mean, not everyone is pro life. Just because we are, doesn’t mean we have to write angry letters about something that "just is". Boycotting AG products will not stop people from having abortions. Just my two credits.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, silence means acceptance. These companies need to know that there are people out there who do not believe they are teaching “values” or perhaps “skewed values”.

If a company doesn’t know, then it won’t change its tactics, and just assume that what they are doing is ok with the average American shopper.

There are better than 28,000 members on this forum alone…if we all hit the company with emails, letters, phone calls, etc., we can make a difference. Also, just think how exponentially this would grow if we asked just two other people to voice their complaint as well, and they ask two people, and so on, and so on.
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I want to make sure that I assure everyone that my letters, emails and phone calls have not been “angry” at all. I state the facts with a professional level of emotion. I feel that overly angry complaints would be less effective, and would result in the company being less receptive to opinions from customers.

I am more concerned with my own children, and the children of my friends and in my family, and the vulnerable girls who are targeted by Girls Inc, that they are protected from being taught that abortion is their “right” without giving them the benefit of all the facts about development of the baby, the baby’s physical pain, that it can lead to reproductive problems including premature birth and miscarriage, infertility, higher risk of breast cancer and emotional trauma. I care about girls.

This is something I feel is my responsibility as an adult. I am not the kind of person who can just sit by and let children be victimized by a negative political agenda, even if they are poor, high risk kids who couldn’t afford American Girl themselves, but are “helped” by Girls Inc.

Aside from the possible change this could cause with American Girl or Girls Inc. I can’t, in good conscience, allow my money to go to this and allow other parents to go on without this knowledge. Who knows how many well-meaning parents have purchased this armband without realizing what they have donated to? I’m not “out to get” American Girls. I am out to inform fellow parents and pro-life, pro-family groups, If AG changes, due to customer complaints, great! If not, at least there will be less pro-life people unknowingly giving their money to Girls Inc.
 
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Peace-bwu:
I want to make sure that I assure everyone that my letters, emails and phone calls have not been “angry” at all. I state the facts with a professional level of emotion. I feel that overly angry complaints would be less effective, and would result in the company being less receptive to opinions from customers.
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:clapping: Well said! :clapping 👍 :
 
One Million Moms has taken up the cause.

I received a second email response from American Girl after I emailed them again specifically referring to Girls Inc method of “providing information and support to make smart, healthy choices”

Dear Ms. xxxxxxxx,

Thank you for taking time to research Girls Inc. and to share your
findings with us. Your comments are duly noted. We also want to
provide you with further clarification on our affiliation with Girls
Inc.

The donations from American Girl to Girls, Inc. are earmarked
specifically to support their work in the areas of intellectual
development, leadership, and sports programs, including:
? Girls Inc. Operation SMARTÂŽ, which builds girls? skills in science,
math and technology
? Girls Inc. Discovery LeadershipÂŽ, which develops leadership skills and
community awareness
? Girls Inc. Sporting ChanceÂŽ, which encourages athletic skills,
cooperative and competitive spirit, and an interest in sports
participation.

American Girl believes that the girls we serve and support today will be
the women who make a difference tomorrow. Our support of these three
Girls Inc. programs allows us to have an even greater impact on today?s
girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas.

We hope this information helps provide a better understanding of our
affiliation with Girls Inc.

Again, thank you for writing to us.
 
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Jaded27:
I know how you meant it, but this made me laugh out loud at work just now. 😃

I’ve had AG dolls since I was a little kid. They’re great. I don’t think I’d stop buying a product just because the company discusses abortion. I mean, not everyone is pro life. Just because we are, doesn’t mean we have to write angry letters about something that “just is”. Boycotting AG products will not stop people from having abortions. Just my two credits.
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Jaded… what an appropriate screen name…

Something “just is” until someone becomes and agent of change and does something about it.

The Holocaust “just was” until someone did something about it.

Writing letters and making our buying decisions known are a very effective way to change corporate policy. Boycotting AG products will keep my money from going towards abortion causes. If they stop supporting the cause, they can have my money again.
 
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Arlene:
One Million Moms has taken up the cause.

I received a second email response from American Girl after I emailed them again specifically referring to Girls Inc method of “providing information and support to make smart, healthy choices”

Dear Ms. xxxxxxxx,

Thank you for taking time to research Girls Inc. and to share your
findings with us. Your comments are duly noted. We also want to
provide you with further clarification on our affiliation with Girls
Inc.

The donations from American Girl to Girls, Inc. are earmarked
specifically to support their work in the areas of intellectual
development, leadership, and sports programs, including:
? Girls Inc. Operation SMARTÂŽ, which builds girls? skills in science,
math and technology
? Girls Inc. Discovery LeadershipÂŽ, which develops leadership skills and
community awareness
? Girls Inc. Sporting ChanceÂŽ, which encourages athletic skills,
cooperative and competitive spirit, and an interest in sports
participation.

American Girl believes that the girls we serve and support today will be
the women who make a difference tomorrow. Our support of these three
Girls Inc. programs allows us to have an even greater impact on today?s
girls, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas.

We hope this information helps provide a better understanding of our
affiliation with Girls Inc.

Again, thank you for writing to us.
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So by giving money to only these politically correct programs of Girls, Inc., AG frees up funds for the sex ed/reproductive health programs. American Girl is irresponsible if they think their customers won’t see through that tap dance.
 
I just wanted everyone who has been keeping up with this thread know that, although I have made the decision to refrain from CA, because I am trying to change the way I balance my free time, that I will continue to keep you up to date with the American Girl isse because if it’s importance. Part of what I plan to do with my free time includes getting more involved in the Pro-life movement. If I receive any more responses from AG or Pro-life groups which I have contacted I will update this thread. I will only check back if I have an important update about this issue

God Bless you all,
Peace
 
Here is a little encouragement for all you Pro- Lifers out there who wonder if you can help make a difference. Sometimes I wish I could go “out there” and do more, but I can say that I am very thankful to have been able to make a small difference by giving fellow Pro-lifers information that they can act on. Here is the Mass email sent out by one of the Pro life groups I contacted (Pro-life action league) Any of you lucky people who live near the Chicago area and are able to join in an organized protest, are very blessed.
[Life-Update, Oct 12, 2005]

Dear Pro-Life Friend,

Last month we had to picket my old high school
for inviting a pro-abortion politician to speak
at an alumnae function. Now it looks like next
month we may have to picket on of my little
girls’ favorite spots in downtown Chicago, the American Girl Place.

Thanks to a tip from a pro-life mom, we learned
that American Girl’s “I Can” self-esteem campaign
is linked to Girls Inc., a group with a
distinctly anti-family agenda. The program
involves a pledge, which is innocent enough, and
the purchase of an “I Can” bracelet. The
bracelets cost $1, of which 70¢ goes to Girls
Inc., along with a $50,000 donation from American Girl.

What’s so bad about Girls Inc.? For starters,
they support abortion. In their own word: “Girls
Incorporated supports a woman’s freedom of
choice, a constitutional right established by the
U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 in Roe vs. Wade.”
(Source: girlsinc.com/ic/page.php?id=4.3.4)

They also condone lesbianism, actively lobby
against abstinence-only sex-ed programs, and
demand access to birth control for girls.

We’re calling on parents, grandparents and other
family members to call and write American Girl
Company President Ellen L. Brothers to sever all
links to Girls Inc. immediately:

Ellen L. Brothers, President
American Girl
8400 Fairway Place
Middleton, WI 53562
Tel: 1-800-845-0005
Fax: 608-828-4790
E-Mail: ellen.brothers@americangirl.com

We hope American Girl will realize that their
association with Girls Inc. tarnishes their
wholesome image, and that we will not have call
for a boycott of their products or picket their
retail stores in Chicago or New York. But if we have to, that’s what we’ll do.

For more links on Girls Inc. and the American
Girl “I Can” campaign, see our home page:

prolifeaction.org

Yours for Life,

Eric J. Scheidler
Communications Director
Pro-Life Action League
prolifeaction.org
Life-Update – News from the Pro-Life Action League
Subscribe or unsubscribe at:
prolifeaction.org/leagueinfo/lifeupdate.htm
List managed by Eric Scheidler (eric@prolifeaction.org)
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Drew Mariani has been talking about this on his show at Relevant Radio the last two days. He is starting a campaign to call in to the company and make your valid complaints. The phone number is …

1-800-845-0005
 
Do all of you think that it’s this thread that began this response to AG or are other group complaining as well?

Also, I applaud the group that will picket American Girl Place. Thank you for your courageous pro-life activism.
 
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Cupofkindness:
Do all of you think that it’s this thread that began this response to AG or are other group complaining as well?

Also, I applaud the group that will picket American Girl Place. Thank you for your courageous pro-life activism.
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Yes, I think it started here. I had not read it anywhere else before I read it here. I then posted on one of my pro-life boards and emailed pro-life friends. Others emailed pro-life and pro-family organizations and voila… organized boycott.

The power of the internet!
 
I have been watching this, and checking things out for myself. Sadly, this is true. AG is giving to Girls, Inc., on the basis that their contribution is going to other things- horse hockey!!!

I have in my closet 2 AG dolls I picked up BRAND NEW (in the sealed package) at a garage sale over the summer for a ridiculous price (The girl who owned them never liked them and was given them by a relative. One is Molly, my favorite. The other is Josefina). I was going to give each of my granddaughters one for Christmas.

I think I will still do this. However, the wardrobes are definitely NOT coming from AG, excepting what’s on the dolls’ backs. And I don’t think we will be making the trip on Metra to AG Place in January, unless it’s for a protest. And of course, I will be letting AG know why.
 
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Peace-bwu:
No I didn’t see that. How did you know Girls Inc was against it, did you see it on ther website or other location?

The solution for American Girl would be to find a program that is helpful for girls such as an academic program that doesn’t promote such controversial issues! By doing this they are"putting out" a lot of their customers. I know there are many pro-life families who will never find out about their support of Girls Inc and what it’s all about!
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Folow the money if we support pro-life and any product gives money to a cause that goes against that we shoud simply vote with our pocket book.

Here in St Augustine Planned Parenthood is trying to establish a clinic. Our Bishop and priests along with doctors have formed a committee of concerned people to oppose such a clinic. They had a one day seminar and educated the people about the organization and how they raise money to stay in business. One third is from the government one third from donations and the last third is fees for service. There service is not free for instance they buy contraceptives at a penny apiece and sell them at a huge profit. They also get donations from of course United Way but I was surprised to learn some of the money comes from the Cancer Society. One of the board members on the cancer society was with Planned Parenthood before she came to them and so she appropiataed, I think it was $450,000. There is a website the Culture of Life where you can find a lot of information.

Peace be with you
 
Thanks for bringing this to our attention! My niece loves these dolls and spends the money she saved on these dolls. They are not cheap either, as you are probably aware.

BTW, today I received my daily e-newsletter from LifeNews and this issue was brought up:

American Girl Doll Maker Comes Under Fire for Supporting Abortion
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) – Washington, DC – Millions of young girls around the country play with American Girl dolls and millions more parents may buy the dolls or their extensive accessories as gifts this Christmas. However, a leading pro-life group says Mattel, the company that manufactures them, is teaming up with a group that backs abortion. Mattel is parterning with a group called Girls Inc. to sell a bracelet, the “I Can” band, which financially supports Girls Inc. Seventy cents of every purchase goes to Girls Inc. and the American Girl web site features a prominent link to the organization. In addition, American Girl is giving the group $50,000 on top of the proceeds from the sales of the bracelets. The problem is that Girls Inc. says it supports abortion and the right of teenagers to have one. “Incorporated supports a woman’s freedom of choice, a constitutional right established by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 in Roe vs. Wade,” the group says on its web site. In discussing a boycott of American Girl dolls it’s supporting the American Family Association says Girls Inc. is “quite clear about their support for Roe, so there is no mistake or room for confusion on that count.” The pro-life group says American Girl is “making a terrible mistake by supporting the pro-abortion” activities of the New York-based group. ACTION: You can express your views about the joint venture between American Girl dolls and Girls Inc. by going to afa.net/Activism/TakeAction.asp?id=179. You can also contact: Ellen L. Brothers, President, American Girl, 8400 Fairway Place, Middleton, WI 53562, Tel: 1-800-845-0005, Fax: 608-828-4790. Read the complete story.

Comments or questions? Email us at news@lifenews.com.
Copyright 2003-2005 LifeNews.com. All rights reserved.
For information on advertising or reprinting news from LifeNews.com, email us.
 
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1ke:
Yes, I think it started here. I had not read it anywhere else before I read it here. I then posted on one of my pro-life boards and emailed pro-life friends. Others emailed pro-life and pro-family organizations and voila… organized boycott.

The power of the internet!
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I think it started here. You could probably check out the dates in comparison to the date that I started this thread. The emails I got back for American Family Assoc. Prolife action league, Priests for Life, Focus on teh Family, etc. all seemed like it was news to them. I contacted all of those websites just before starting this thread. I really do think it started here. I haven’t had an email back from Feminists for Life yet, I am going to check their website to see whether they have posted anything about it.
 
Jennifer J:
I contacted American Girl via email and received a response. Am I allowed to post the response here??? It’s less than heartening! :mad:

Jennifer
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Jennifer:

Please post their response here - I believe that, more than anything else will allow people to see the moral bankrupcy of this corporation.

We’ve tried to make that standard practice on the Culture of Death Subforum, because nothing is more illumining than people’s responses to our attempts at correction.

The problem with this Corporation isn’t just a family issue, but involves what Pope John Paul II called the STRUGGLE BETWEEN the CULTURE OF LIFE and the CULTURE OF DEATH.

I know that most of the people who post in this forum post here because they are more comfortable with the dialogue and the people who post here, but I would ask that issues such as this be shared with everyone at Catholic Answers who is trying to make a difference in the Struggle between the Culture of Life and the Cultue of Death.

We all need to know about this so we all can write this foul company and let them know that their conduct is unacceptable to faithful Catholics and those who sympathize with them.

I don’t believe that most issues involve the Struggle between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death, but some do. And those that do, that also involve the family, you would be doing us a service if you brought this to the attention of the eager activists at Culture of Death Subforum. In exchange, we might be able to bring in some resources that might help to occasionally cause a board of directors or school board to change directions.

Thank you for letting me take the stump.

And, yes. By all means, post their undescribable reply to you. I believe that the people here will learn from it.

In Christ, Michael
 
Traditional Ang:
Jennifer:

Please post their response here - I believe that, more than anything else will allow people to see the moral bankrupcy of this corporation.

snip
And, yes. By all means, post their undescribable reply to you. I believe that the people here will learn from it.

In Christ, Michael
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see post #62 above 😉 I posted it already and it’s a canned response. Everyone has received pretty much the same tripe from them.
Jennifer
 
I was visiting with a friend last night and was going to tell her about all this, but she already knew, she got an email from ONE MILLION MOMs. they have American Girl as their current issue for action.

www.onemillionmoms.com

isn’t it awesome the power that generates from standing together? Didn’t we “warn” American Girl that there would be a ground swell of protest?

Arlene
 
Here are my letters to the executives. Everyone write-- it can make a difference!

-------------------- Letter 1 -----------------

Ellen L. Brothers
President, American Girl – Mattel
8400 Fairway Place
Middleton, WI 53562

Dear Ms. Brothers:

It has come to my attention that American Girl has developed a relationship with Girls, Inc., and are giving money to this organization through both grants and the “I Can” line of products. After careful investigation, this is very troubling to me. Girls, Inc., supports radical, anti-family and pro-abortion causes and programs. Their philosophy permeates all of their programs aimed at pre-teen and teen girls. This is not the message that I want my children, nieces, and friends’ daughters to be exposed to. Although I purchased American Girl products for my niece last Christmas, I will be unable to purchase any further products from your company until such time as you cease your relationship with this offensive organization.

American Girl trades on its image of wholesomeness. American Girl even goes so far as to proclaim on the savegirlhood.com website that girls are growing up too fast at the “expense of their innocence,” and yet American Girl funds an organization that seeks to destroy that innocence through programs teaching “reproductive freedom” and an unfettered “right” to abortion on demand. I have also recently heard that American Girl has tried to play down the relationship with Girls, Inc., claming that it only funds specific programs. What American Girl fails to understand is that consumers are smart enough to understand that there is no wall between these programs, monies inevitably pay for overhead, employees of this organization have a shared philosophy and vision which permeate all of their programs, and through American Girl’s donations other monies are freed up to go to the offensive programs. Additionally, American Girl cannot deny that they link directly to the Girls, Inc., website where young girls can be exposed to this offensive material without their parents’ knowledge or consent.

Please be advised that nothing short of a full discontinuation of the relationship between American Girl and Girls, Inc., will restore my patronage to your company. I have taken the liberty of notifying all of my friends and family who share my values and who are also careful stewards of their consumer dollars. It is important that companies are responsible to their consumers. American Girl is a highly respected company, and I hope that this relationship has only been a grave misjudgment on someone’s part at your company. If you do continue this relationship, one can only assume that your company’s executives share the philosophy of Girls, Inc. A very bad business decision indeed.

cc:
Bob Eckert, Chairman Mattel
Susan Jevens, Public Relations, American Girl

-------------------------- Letter 2 -----------------------------

Bob Eckert
Chairman, Mattel, Inc.
333 Continental Boulevard
El Segundo, CA 90245-5012

Dear Mr. Eckert:

Enclosed please find my letter recently written to Ms. Ellen Brothers at the American Girl division of Mattel. It is come to my attention that American Girl is donating money to an organization (Girls, Inc.) that promotes an anti-family and pro-abortion agenda. I do not believe it is appropriate for a company whose target market is young pre-teen girls to be associated with this group. Be assured that I and my friends will no longer be purchasing American Girl products until such a relationship is discontinued. This goes for Mattel too. Mattel, as the parent company, is ultimately responsible to its consumers and shareholders. I hold Mattel equally responsible for this serious lapse in judgment of the corporate giving department. As Christmas approaches, the children on my list will not be receiving any American Girl or Barbie products unless there is immediate and decisive action taken regarding this Girls, Inc., situation.
 
Good Job 1ke ! thanks for sharing your letters with us.

I have sent my second Email to THE World Over and EWTN. I am hoping this email will get a reply.

You know what is really exciting to me? When I called American Girls for the first time on OCT 3, they had the “proper” person return my call. One of the things she said was that she is was suprised and disappointed to hear a complaint about their association with Girls Inc. as they have not had any complaints about it, and that they would take it very seriously.

I told her that I would be informing all the Pro life organizations and prolife friends I could,

I bet they are getting their fill now. I also bet they have given up on personally returning phone calls.

The motivated members of Catholic Answers ROCK!!!

Keep up the good work everybody. We will make a difference, we already are.:clapping:

Each letter, phone call and email make a difference.
 
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