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Cell Phones for Soldiers Kicks Off Memorial Day “Yellow Ribbon” Drive
NORWELL, Mass., May 21 – More than 150,000 troops serving overseas will spend Memorial Day away from their families this Memorial Day. Cell Phones for Soldiers is calling on all Americans to show support for the troops by supporting the “Yellow Ribbon” cell phone collection drive. From May 21 through July 4, Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect over 50,000 unused cell phones to help keep troops connected with the families.
“For the families and friends of soldiers serving abroad, Memorial Day is much more than a long holiday weekend,” says Brittany Bergquist, Cell Phones for Soldiers co-founder. “We’re asking Americans to make a small sacrifice of support by donating their unused cell phones, providing families with a much-needed connection to their loved ones overseas.”
Cell Phones for Soldiers is inviting Americans to support the Yellow Ribbon campaign in one of three ways:
Cell Phones for Soliders sends the phones to Michigan-based ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers up to $50 for each donated phone – enough to provide twenty-five hours of calling cards to soldiers abroad. Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas in 2007.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 250,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.
“We have been overwhelmed by the generous support of thousands of Americans who have helped our troops speak with their loved ones,” says the teens’ father, Bob Bergquist. “However the need for support keeps growing as more soldiers are sent to the Middle East or are asked to serve extended tours of duty.”
Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones and prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.
“Americans will replace an estimated 130 million cell phones this year,” says Mike Newman, vice president of ReCellular, “with the majority of phones either discarded or stuffed in a drawer. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that the small sacrifice of donating their unwanted phones can have a tremendous benefit for a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soldiers.”
Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Handsets and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled.
In 2007, ReCellular expects to recycle 1 million pounds of scrap phones and accessories, working with recycling partners to reclaim materials, including:
ReCellular has supported more than 2000 national and local charities since the company pioneered the concept of charity cell phone fundraising.
“One of the founding principles of ReCellular is to build a successful business that is both socially and environmentally responsible,” says Newman. “It is a great honor and privilege to support such a worthy and inspiring effort as the Bergquists’ Cell Phones for Soldiers.”
Visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com for more information, including a list of donation sites across the country, or to request prepaid calling cards.
About ReCellular Inc.:
With offices in the United States, Hong Kong, and Brazil, ReCellular Inc. is the world’s foremost collector, reseller and recycler of used wireless phones and accessories. We provide solutions for the collection, reuse and recycling of used personal electronics that generate financial return for our partners, quality products for our customers, funding for charity organizations, and protection of the environment. Corporate and wholesale information is available at www.ReCellular.com. Consumer information, including the Cell Phone Data Eraser™ tool and charity fundraising information, is available at www.wirelessrecycling.com.