The Sinful Six

By Cyndi Jones, Publisher Mainstream Magazine

Six major corporations redefined the meaning of mean-spirited behavior this year. VISA, McDonald's, Anheuser-Busch, Sara Lee, Bausch and Lomb, and John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance decided not to sponsor the Paralympics. That was regretable. But these corporations -- which were sponsors of the Olympics -- went too far. These Sinful Six companies refused to release their categories, thus prohibiting the Paralympics from soliciting their competitors. That meant that companies like American Express, Burger King, or Miller's could not be approached for sponsorship.

The Sinful Six obviously believed that we don't have money to spend or available credit, so we don't matter to them. After all it was only the Paralympics. As Olympic sponsors these corporations had the right to retain their category and withhold their sponsorship of the Paralympics.

Well, the disability community has the right to withhold spending money with these companies. That is exactly what Alana Shepherd of Shepherd Center, a founding sponsor of the Paralympics, is asking the disability community and our friends to do. We are calling for a boycott of the Sinful Six.

"You're no BUD of mine!" "A BIG MAC is not on my diet!" "Who is Sara Lee, anyway?" I'm sure that many of you can come up with creative slogans, and I urge you to forward them our way. If you are online send them to publisher@mainstream-mag.com or you can send them to our street address.

Let these companies know what you think of their shameful treatment of the Paralympics.

Mr. Jeff Bliss - President & CEO Sara Lee Corporation
3 First Nat'l Plaza - Chicago, IL 00602-4260

Mr. Steve Burgay Marketing Manager of Georgia Anheuser-
1000 Abernathy Road, Ste. 1500 Atlanta, GA 30328

Mr. David Archer - Bausch and Lomb, Inc.
1 Bausch and Lomb Place - Rochester, NY 14604

Mr. Steve Burgay - Public Affairs Manager
John Hancock Mutual Life
PO Box 111, Boston, MA 02117

Ms. Cheryl Kirk - Dir. of the Olympics McDonald's
1 McDonald Plaza Oak Brook, IL 60521

Mr. Michael Lynch - VP Event Mktg.
Visa International - PO Box 8999 - San Francisco, CA 94128-8999

What do we want from these corporations? Here are the demands formulated by the disability community in Atlanta:

1) Work with the National Council on Independent Living to evaluate their corporate giving programs to determine if they empower people with disabilities.

2) Become founding sponsors of the U.S. Disabled Athletes Fund by the end of 1996.

3) Become sponsors of the Paralympic Games in 2000 by July 26, 1997.

4) Provide staffing assistance and at least $100,000 each for a worldwide celebration of disability rights, including a 10th Anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act celebration event in the year 2000.

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