Are you sure it wasn't "the Ohio Troopers Coalition?" Somethine about paying for teddy bears to give to children at accident scenes?
I use to work for the organization soliciting funds when I was going through school. I made good money but it was easy to get burned out.
FWIW they do raise money for good causes, but the vast majority of the funds go to "operating expenses" and soliciters salaries. I personally knew the owners of the company, Civic Development Group out of New Jersey.
It was just another job to me. When "cold calling" you experience a lot of "rejection." I didn't take the rejection personal. I was good at what I did. There were "callers"/solicitors and "closers." I was a "closer." It was the closers job to ensure that the "donor" felt good about his "pledge." It didn't make much sense if the "donor" pledged $100 if he/she never sent it in! I had a good "collection rate." Sometimes if the "donor" was waviering on the amount I would "lower" their amount to solidify the "sale." I never lied or misrepresented myself or the company. I figured there are "lots of fish in the sea" so I wasn't going to compromise my character by lying.
If you don't want to be called: 1. never contribute(that gets you on a list for other "chairities," and 2. Ask politely but firmly that your name be removed from their lists. You may continue to receive phone calls for a while because once you give, they have all your information and they know you will give, your name is going on a lot of lists! Do not waiver, the soliciters are trained to "manage" the conversation and collect the maximum amount of money.
Just remember, the person on the other end is just like you, trying to make a living. Believe it or not, if you aren't going to contribute, they don't want to call you and waste their time any more than you want to be called!
So be polite and firm and if the solictor is in anyway abusive(they don't last long in this business)just ask to speak to a supervisor and ask that your name & number be removed from their data base. I hope this helps ease some of the "pain" associated with "telephone soliciters."
Hessian-1
(Would you like to help at the "silver level" or would you like to really make a difference and go for the "Gold!".........
)out!