Cal launches socially conscious credit card
Israel's Visa-Cal joins forces with AKIM, introduces special edition of illustrated credit cards enabling holder to donate 0.3% of each transaction to AKIM, through Cal. Cards to be presented at AKIM art show in mid February
Israeli credit card company Visa-Cal has recently introduced Israel's first socially conscious credit card.
The card, which according to Cal is an every day, normal card – available for local, international, gold and platinum card holder – carries a twist: Each time the card holder uses it, Cal will donate 0.3% of the purchase value to AKIM, the National Association for the Habilitation of the Mentally Handicapped in Israel.
To celebrate the new venture, Cal has issues a special edition of credit cards, illustrated by AKIM's artists. The company will also donate its NIS 25 ($6.8) fee, charged for issuing a new credit card, to AKIM.
A special edition of Illustrated credit cards (Photo: Cal PR)
"The new card presents a unique social model for recruiting resources – any use of the card derives a donation to AKIM, which doesn’t come out the card holder's pocket. This will allow us to continue supporting the 30,000 mentally handicapped individuals leaving in Israel today," said AKIM Chairman Yossi Malka.
"We appreciate Cal's past and present work for AKIM, and its sponsorship of the AKIM art show, which offers us the unique opportunity to showcase out artists very special work and give it the public legitimizations it deserves," he added.
Cal Chairman Boaz Chechik spoke of the company's ongoing relations with AKIM, saying "social involvement is a staple of Cal's and our cooperation with AKIM is ongoing.
"We are proud to launch the first socially conscious credit card in Israel. This card will allow its holder to make a social investment and an ongoing contribution to AKIM. I hope we will be able to convince other companies to join the project, thus enabling us all to be a part of a blessed social initiative," added Chechik.
The cards will be presented as part of an AKIM art show under the title "Truth and Dare – artistic truth and social daring," which will open on February 12th at the Gebo Art Space in Tel Aviv.
