Autism Speaks: For $299, luck you can have celebrity supply your voicemail message

The advocacy group Autism Speaks is offering custom-recorded messages from celebrities, such as Ed Asner, from Dec. 3 to Dec. 9 to raise money for the organization. Asner, came up with the unique fundraiser with his son Matt, who works for the group.

NEW YORK — Imagine having William Shatner supply your outgoing voicemail message. Or maybe you'd prefer Morgan Freeman coolly telling callers to wait for the beep. Or perhaps having Betty White joke around is more your speed.

All it takes is $299 and some luck.

The advocacy group Autism Speaks is offering custom-recorded messages from those celebrities as well as Will Ferrell, Carrie Fisher, Tom Hanks, Derek Jeter, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart, and Ed Asner.

From Dec. 3 to Dec. 9, a limited number of 20-second long MP3 messages will be recorded by each celebrity on a first-come, first-served basis for fans to do with as they wish. All requests must be of the PG variety.

Asner, the curmudgeonly Emmy Award winner of The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lou Grant, dreamed up the unusual fund-raiser with his son Matt, who works for Autism Speaks.

Those interested can visit, soundoffforautismspeaks.com. All proceeds will support autism research and advocacy efforts.