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Newly Identified Corporate Supporters of Planned Parenthood Named

FRONT ROYAL, VA, November 5, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Life Decisions International (LDI) has released a revised edition of The Boycott List, which identifies corporations that are boycott targets due to their support of Planned Parenthood, the world's primary abortion-advocacy group.

"As a direct result of the commitment, action and prayers of pro-family people, at least 231 corporations have stopped funding Planned Parenthood," said LDI Chairman Thomas C. Strobhar. It is estimated that the boycott has cost Planned Parenthood more than $40 million since the Corporate Funding Project (CFP) began nearly 17 years ago. "This should serve as a testament to those who thought it impossible to change corporate philanthropic behavior."

New boycott targets, appearing on the pre-Christmas 2009 edition of The Boycott List, include Buffalo Wild Wings (restaurants), Estée Lauder (cosmetics/personal care products), Computer Sciences Corporation (information technology), and United Parcel Service (shipping services).

Corporations continuing as boycott targets from the previously released Boycott List include eBay (Pay {Pal, etc.), AlphaGraphics, Wells Fargo (including Wachovia), Nike, Time Warner (HBO, AOL, etc.), Bank of America, Walt Disney, Johnson & Johnson, Lost Arrow (Patagonia, etc.), Chevron, and Nationwide Insurance, and Sonic (restaurants), among others.

LDI singled out longtime boycott target Whole Foods Market for special attention. "Whole Foods Market has been misleading pro-life consumers for many years. Statements from the Company vary, depending on who is doing the talking at the time," LDI Director of Communications Ken Garvey. "Whole Foods has been emphasizing that it does not support Planned Parenthood at the corporate level, but it does do so on the local level. Corporate officials are telling pro-life advocates it is acceptable to shop at Whole Foods if their particular local market does not give to Planned Parenthood. As one Whole Foods officials said, 'As I explain to many of the people you encourage to boycott us, check with your local store and see if they donate. Many are happy with this.'" 

"We are surprised that any pro-life consumer would fail to see how they are being manipulated by Whole Foods," Garvey said. "Whole Foods could put an immediate stop to support of Planned Parenthood if the chief executive officer chose to do so. Would the 'decentralized giving program' excuse be acceptable to the Humane Society if a local market chose to make a donation to support dog fighting. Certainly not. Corporate headquarters would put an immediate stop to it. Pro-lifers should view Planned Parenthood in the same way."

Garvey noted that Whole Foods stores located in liberal areas are supporting the pro-abortion group while those in more conservative areas are pleading ignorance and innocence. "It is foolhardy to buy into the idea that one may shop at Whole Foods if their local store claims it is not funding Planned Parenthood," he said. "Every pro-life consumer who accepts this 'reasoning' is doing great damage to the Pro-Life Movement in general and the Corporate Funding Project in particular."

The new Boycott List includes an expanded "Dishonorable Mention" section, which identifies charitable groups that are associated with Planned Parenthood and/or its agenda. Groups named in this section include American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Lions Clubs, the American Cancer Society, Camp Fire, Girls Inc., Girl Scouts, Kiwanis Clubs, the March of Dimes, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Rotary Clubs, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Salvation Army, the YWCA, and YMCA, among others.

"This has not been some sort of 'Jesse Jackson boycott' where we make news for a few days and then go away," Strobhar said. "Corporate officials are learning that those who value life are among the most dedicated people on earth. We will not go away until corporate involvement with Planned Parenthood comes to an end."

More information about the CFP, including the steps taken before a corporation is placed on The Boycott List, please click here.

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