AT&T donor service aids local charities

Through a new partnership between Truist and CharityCall, two local charities will benefit from a new speed dial-to-donate service.

AT&T Wireless U.S. subscribers can give $25 to a charity from any AT&T mobile device without entering a text message or exchanging private financial or user information.

Five U.S. charities were initially picked to participate, which include Betheda-based EarthShare and D.C.-based Global Action for Children.

D.C.-based Truist, a for-profit company that accelerates the chain of giving from donor to recipient, has plans to add more charities to the service down the line.

The $25 donation is a one-time charge billed to the user’s AT&T Wireless monthly statement.

“Users are familiar with dialing 411 and 911. That’s the process we use — making this a phone call without having to engage the user to punch a bunch of digits,” said Bob Jones, founder and president of CharityCall. “It’s a quick and easy process that appeals to a 100-percent wireless audience, not just a person that uses text-based services.”

Donors dial “505” and hit a two-digit code that corresponds to one of the charities.

Joyful Heart Foundation, one of the five charities on the list, has celebrity roots. Mariska Hargitay, star of NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” founded the New York-based nonprofit in 2004.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina and American Red Cross of Orange County are also participating.

AT&T users are limited to spend an additional $100 per month — in excess of their monthly wireless bill — for donations, downloads, ringtones, and other added charges. mariskahargitay.info