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NEWS * PRESS RELEASE
December 17, 2007
CLINTON - More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families. Cell Phones for Soldiers and Guaranty Auto are calling on all Americans to support these brave men and women by donating your unused and old cell phones. Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to collect over 50,000 cell phones to help keep troops connected with their families.
"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" says Brittany Bergquist, Cell Phones for Soldiers co-founder.
Local residents can support the collection drive by donating their phones at Guaranty Auto: 115 Chestnut Street, Clinton, MA Ph: 978 365 4787 or 978 365 7070, Email: info@guaranty-auto.com
The holidays can be an especially difficult time for U.S. Soldiers and their loved ones. "We're proud to show our support for U.S. soldiers, and to contribute to a worthy cause like Call Phones for Soldiers," says Lorne Almeida, owner of Guaranty Auto.
"Lorne and I know many people personally who are currently serving and who have recently returned from serving overseas. When we read about this organization and found out that two teenagers from Massachusetts start this, we immediately felt the need to join in and help," says Elizabeth Wood, Office Manager.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, MA with $21.00 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 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 and 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.
The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone - enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.
Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials, including:
Gold,
silver and platinum from circuit boards
Copper wiring from phone chargers
Nickel, iron, cadmium and lead from battery packs
Plastic from phone cases and accessories.
About Cell Phones for Soldiers: Cell Phones for Soldiers was created by Brittany & Robbie Bergquist of Norwell, MA. After reading a story about a soldier who ran up a huge phone bill calling home from Iraq, these two teenagers decided to help out. They started by opening an account with $21.00 of their own money. They are collecting cash donations and old cell phones. The cell phones are recycled for cash and the proceeds are used to buy prepaid calling cards for our soldiers serving in the Middle East. Cell Phones for Soldiers is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Their efforts have motivated people and businesses around the country to donate to this worthy cause. Their goal is to provide every US soldier with a way to call home for free. For more information, please visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
Guaranty Auto offers a 5% discount every day, any day to all members of the military as well as senior citizens. Donation receipts for Cell Phones for Soldiers are available in the office for anyone who drops of a cell phone at Guaranty Auto.