Cell phones for soldiers
Encyclopedia
Cell Phones for Soldiers is a registered 501(c)3 charity
, dedicated to helping every U.S. service member call home for free.
The teenagers pooled their money to raise their first $21. The pair went on to collect change from their friends and hold a car wash that raised almost $1,000. When they went to a local bank to start an account for the collection drive, the bank chipped in another $500.
The local media reported on what the Bergquist family was doing, and the coverage led to a massive surge in contributions. That, in turn, put Brittany and Robbie in the national news and won them support from across the country. That inspired the Bergquist family to launch “Cell Phones for Soldiers” as formal 501(c)3 charitable organization – with the goal of helping every service member call home for free.
The organization took a novel approach to fundraising, collecting old cell phones that are too often left sitting in drawers. The Bergquists have teamed up with ReCellular, Inc. to process their phones and are paid for every phone they collect, with the average phone worth enough to provide a 60 minute calling card for international use. ReCellular is the worlds largest mobile device recycler, processing over 2 million phones for Cell Phones for Soldiers in 2008 alone.
with Katie Couric
and Foxnews.
By 2009, Cell Phones for Soldiers had a nationwide network of some 3,000 volunteers running collection drives, from Boy Scout Troops to Fortune 500 companies. The biggest of their corporate supporters has been AT&T Mobility, which offered its 2,000 stores in 1,100 cities as collection points.
At that time, the family had raised more than 2 million dollars, which provided members of the U.S. Armed Forces with more than 500,000 one hour calling cards. That’s more than 30 million minutes of connection with family and friends at home.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, dedicated to helping every U.S. service member call home for free.
History
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004, when Brittany Bergquist, then 13, and her brother, Robbie, 12, heard a news story about an Army Reserve sergeant stationed in Iraq who had racked up a $7,624 cell phone bill calling home to his family in the states.The teenagers pooled their money to raise their first $21. The pair went on to collect change from their friends and hold a car wash that raised almost $1,000. When they went to a local bank to start an account for the collection drive, the bank chipped in another $500.
The local media reported on what the Bergquist family was doing, and the coverage led to a massive surge in contributions. That, in turn, put Brittany and Robbie in the national news and won them support from across the country. That inspired the Bergquist family to launch “Cell Phones for Soldiers” as formal 501(c)3 charitable organization – with the goal of helping every service member call home for free.
The organization took a novel approach to fundraising, collecting old cell phones that are too often left sitting in drawers. The Bergquists have teamed up with ReCellular, Inc. to process their phones and are paid for every phone they collect, with the average phone worth enough to provide a 60 minute calling card for international use. ReCellular is the worlds largest mobile device recycler, processing over 2 million phones for Cell Phones for Soldiers in 2008 alone.
Recognitions
As their efforts gained momentum, the Bergquists gained more media coverage, including CBS Evening NewsCBS Evening News
CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963....
with Katie Couric
Katie Couric
Katherine Anne "Katie" Couric is an American journalist and author. She serves as Special Correspondent for ABC News, contributing to ABC World News, Nightline, 20/20, Good Morning America, This Week and primetime news specials...
and Foxnews.
By 2009, Cell Phones for Soldiers had a nationwide network of some 3,000 volunteers running collection drives, from Boy Scout Troops to Fortune 500 companies. The biggest of their corporate supporters has been AT&T Mobility, which offered its 2,000 stores in 1,100 cities as collection points.
At that time, the family had raised more than 2 million dollars, which provided members of the U.S. Armed Forces with more than 500,000 one hour calling cards. That’s more than 30 million minutes of connection with family and friends at home.