Cell phones for soldiers
Cell phones for soldiers mission:
Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans.
Cell phones for soldiers fast facts:
Since 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers...
- Have provided more than 204 million minutes of free talk time
- Mails approximately 7,500 calling cards each week
- Recycled more than 11 million cell phones, reducing the impact on landfills
- July 2012 launched Helping Heroes Home, to provide emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships.
- Since July 2012, Helping Heroes Home has assisted more than 400 veterans and their families with emergency funding.
- Has remained a family-run, nonprofit organization operated almost exclusively by Bob, Gail, Brittany, Robbie and Courtney Bergquist.
History
Since its inception in 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers has worked to keep military families connected by providing FREE communication tools to those serving overseas in the United States military. For a decade, the registered 501(c)(3) has provided troops with an estimated 3.3 million prepaid calling cards, equating to more then 204 million minutes of FREE talk time.
Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to continue its mission to provide troops with FREE calls home through generous monetary contributions and the recycling of used mobile phones. Used mobile phones from all service providers are accepted. Each $5 contribution, or donated device valued at $5, will provide troops with 2.5 hours of FREE talk time.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist of Norwell, Mass., at the ages of 12 and 13. The organization has prevented more than 11 million cell phones from ending up in landfills.
"Cell Phones for Soldiers started as a small way to show our family's appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed the day-to-day contact with their own families to serve in the U.S. armed forces," says the teens' father, Bob Bergquist. "Over the past few years, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue to grow as more troops are sent overseas for longer assignments."
In July 2012, the Bergquist family launched a new program, Helping Heroes Home, which will provide emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships.
"Since starting Cell Phones for Soldiers, we've wanted to create a program that would allow us to serve veterans here at home," said Brittany Bergquist. 'Helping Heroes Home' is that solution. It allows us to quickly amend a difficult situation and restore some peace of mind and support."
Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to continue its mission to provide troops with FREE calls home through generous monetary contributions and the recycling of used mobile phones. Used mobile phones from all service providers are accepted. Each $5 contribution, or donated device valued at $5, will provide troops with 2.5 hours of FREE talk time.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist of Norwell, Mass., at the ages of 12 and 13. The organization has prevented more than 11 million cell phones from ending up in landfills.
"Cell Phones for Soldiers started as a small way to show our family's appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed the day-to-day contact with their own families to serve in the U.S. armed forces," says the teens' father, Bob Bergquist. "Over the past few years, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue to grow as more troops are sent overseas for longer assignments."
In July 2012, the Bergquist family launched a new program, Helping Heroes Home, which will provide emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships.
"Since starting Cell Phones for Soldiers, we've wanted to create a program that would allow us to serve veterans here at home," said Brittany Bergquist. 'Helping Heroes Home' is that solution. It allows us to quickly amend a difficult situation and restore some peace of mind and support."
