To Whom It May Concern:

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is the third largest
501(c)3 national cancer charity that fosters research on diet and cancer
and educates the public about the results.  AICR raises $38 million per
year, $7 million of which would be put in serious jeopardy by the FTC's
proposed "Do Not Call List."

Like other health-related charitable organizations, the American Institute
for Cancer Research depends on volunteers to assist it in a number of
meaningful ways.  The most frequent form of volunteer recruitment is
supplemented by the grass roots fundraising efforts of the organization.
There is a substantial portion of individuals who, while they cannot make a
major gift, can make a small periodic gift to the organization.  The cost
of contacting each one of these individuals by staff persons or by hired
professional representatives is prohibitive.  Without a low, cost-effective
means of developing a line of communication, the affinity between the
individual and the cause will be lost.

Our organization, like so many others, has turned to professional
telemarketing as a way to recruit volunteers on a
neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis.  This type of campaign is complex and
would be prohibitively expensive to run in house by our own staff.

One volunteer potentially represents 15 contacts.  Each contact, regardless
of results, heightens our name recognition.  In the course of these
contacts, a volunteer not only provides information about the program
service and its availability to the person contacted and members of their
family, but he/she also seeks support.

Many of the volunteers have more time than money to contribute.  This
approach allows individuals to play a meaningful role in assisting an
organization with which they feel an affinity.  Even if the volunteer only
obtains $10 from five different friends, the end result is a fifty-dollar
response to a single telephone call.  Not only has the organization
effectively reduced its cost of fundraising, thereby making more money
available to pursue its program service and education, it has also
potentially identified 15 other persons who may become regular supporters
who make financial contributions or avail themselves of the program
services we offer.  If a significant portion of all listed telephone
numbers (the FTC itself has estimated could be 40% or more that ultimately
end up on the national list) becomes unavailable as a result of the
institution of a national "Do Not Call List," then this vital portion of
our organization will be substantially diminished.  This program makes up
almost 20% of our total revenues.

We strongly urge you to exempt charities, and professional fundraisers
calling on their behalf, from the requirements of the FTC's national "Do
Not Call List."

Sincerely,

Kathryn L. Ward
Senior Vice President