Method for funding a charity using a prepaid card

• US 8,438,098 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Eason
• Original Assignee: David Eason, Jonathon Hamburg
• Inventors: Hamburg, Jonathon
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graham, Clement B
• Application Number:
  US12/258,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,653 Days
• Field of Search: 705 37- 38, 705 39- 43, 235379-381
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/22 Social work or social welfare, e.g. community support activities or counselling services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting

Abstract

A method of charity funding, using prepaid cards. A winner of a charity lottery is provided with a prepaid card having, as an initial balance, the lottery winnings. As part of the card activation process, the winner is asked whether they would like to donate all or part of their winnings back to the charity. Systems and methods for providing same.

Claims

1. A method for providing funding to a charity on a server, said method comprising:

receiving, at the server, a request to activate a prepaid card, said prepaid card issued to a winner of a charity lottery and having a card balance corresponding to a prize won by said winner of said charity lottery;

receiving, at the server, a validation request including identity data;

validating, at the server, the received identity data with stored winner information;

sending, from the server, a donation request to said winner, said donation request comprising a request to donate a portion or all of said card balance;

receiving, at the server, a donation response from said winner;

after receiving the donation response, activating the prepaid card in a card database; and

if said donation response is affirmative, deducting, at the server, a donation amount from the card balance and transferring at least a portion of said donation amount to said charity.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising validating the value of said prize.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein when the donation response is affirmative, the method further comprising:

sending an amount inquiry;

receiving, in response to the amount inquiry, the donation amount.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a charitable receipt; and

sending the charitable receipt to said winner.

5. A system for enabling donations, comprising

at least one processor;

at least one data storage device electronically coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one data storage device storing at least one identity parameter and a prize amount, both said at least one identity parameter and said prize amount being associated with an entity, said prize amount corresponding to a prize won by said entity in a lottery;

the at least one processor configured to receive, from said entity, a validation request comprising a selection of one or more identity parameters, and confirm an identity of said entity from said identity parameters;

the at least one processor configured to request, from said entity, a donation, further comprising a donation amount;

the at least one processor configured to deduct said donation amount from said prize amount;

the at least one processor configured to activate a card associated with said entity, with the deducted prize amount after receiving a response to the donation request; and

the at least one processor configured to transfer at least a portion of the donation amount to a donation recipient.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said processor is further configured to store information associated with said donation and donation amount, and issue a receipt to said entity for said donation amount.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said validation request is received telephonically.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is electronically coupled to a telecommunications network, wherein the validation request is implemented utilizing an interactive voice recording system coupled to said processor and said network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the validation request is initiated by one or more calls from a telecommunication device utilized by said entity seeking to validate a card.

10. A method for enabling donations to a charity on a server, comprising:

receiving from the charity information associated with an entity, said entity provided with an inactive card;

receiving a prize value associated with said card from the charity, said prize value corresponding to a prize won by said entity in a charity lottery;

receiving an activation request from said entity;

confirming, on the server, an identity of said entity by sending a request for identity data from said entity, receiving said identity data from said entity, and comparing said identity data with said information associated with said entity;

sending a request to provide a donation to said charity;

receiving a donation response to from said entity, and, when said response is affirmative, sending a request for a donation amount, and deducting a received donation amount from said prize value associated with said card;

after receiving the donation response, activating said card in a card database on the server, and storing said prize value and information associated with said entity in said card database; and

transferring at least a portion of the donation amount to the charity.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising generating a charitable receipt to said entity for said donation amount.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said information associated with said entity, prize value, identity data, and donation amount are stored on at least one data storage device electronically coupled to a processor.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one of receiving the activation request, confirming the identity, sending the donation request and receiving the donation response utilize an interactive voice recording system.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the activation request is received from a telecommunication device utilized by said entity.