FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2011
Contact: Mary Beth Hutchins or Elizabeth Ray at 703-683-5004

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the National Organization for Marriage's (NOM) Corporate Fairness Project applauds Kohl's decision to end their boycott and support its valued customers by reinstating the Charity Giveback Group, allowing customers to give to the charity of their choice.

"Kohl's took a stand today not for or against gay marriage, but for respecting all of their customers' right to make up their own mind on what merchandise they purchase and which charities to support. Refusing to cooperate with the boycott of Charity Giveback Group demonstrates a respect for all sides in this public debate," said Jonathan Baker, director of NOM's Corporate Fairness Project.
The Charity Giveback Group is an online marketing company that directs customers through its website to hundreds of different online retailers, and those retailers then pay the Charity Giveback Group a commission for purchases made through the marketer. The Charity Giveback Group, in an effort to attract business, shares the commission they receive for the customer's purchase with the customer by allowing them to donate a portion of the commission to one of over 179,000 different charities. Some LGBT activists called for a boycott of corporations that permit their customers to purchase through Charity Giveback Group, on the false grounds the corporation was thus donating to nonprofits that support traditional Biblical views on sex and marriage.

"When Kohl's recognized the charge was false, they did the responsible thing, reinstating the Charity Giveback Group, thus demonstrating respect for all Americans by offering their customers' freedom of choice; kudos to the company for acting as a fair and responsible corporate citizen," added Brian Brown, president of NOM.

The response from Kohl's, after hearing from NOM, was sent in a letter on Monday, December 5, where a representative from Kohl's wrote, “We have reviewed the status of Connection Plus Network and made the decision to reinstate it as an affiliate.”

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray, [email protected], (x130) or Mary Beth Hutchins,[email protected], (x105) at 703-683-5004.

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