Posted at 12:08 p.m., Thursday, May 24, 2007
AT&T recycles cell phones for military families
News Release
AT&T WIRELESS STORES IN HONOLULU TO SERVE AS CELL PHONE RECYCLING DROP-OFF LOCATIONS FOR PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS MILITARY FAMILIES
HONOLULU, MAY 24, 2007 AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) announced today that all AT&T-owned wireless store locations nationwide and across Honolulu will become wireless phone recycling drop-off sites for a charitable program benefiting U.S. military families. The new recycling program, which was started by two teenagers, was announced just days before Memorial Day and will reach all company owned stores in Honolulu by Independence Day.
Cell Phones for Soldiers (www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com) was established by two Norwell, Mass., teenagers to help buy prepaid phone cards for U.S. military members who are serving overseas. The teens, Brittany Bergquist, 16, and Robbie Bergquist, 15, created a nonprofit organization that collects and recycles used wireless phones. With proceeds from the recycling, the organization then purchases prepaid phone cards for military families.
Since the Bergquists founded the program in April 2004, they have raised more than
$1 million and have sent more than 75,000 phone cards to troops overseas. Money raised also helps fund free phone calls for military families in the United States so they can call their loved ones who are stationed abroad.
AT&T is launching the new recycling program in the weeks following Memorial Day at AT&T owned wireless store locations throughout the Northeast, including Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. By Independence Day, the company will have activated all AT&T-owned wireless stores nationwide, including most stores across the greater Honolulu area. In total, the program will reach approximately 1,800 stores in more than 1,100 cities across the U.S.
In addition, AT&T is donating more than 30,000 prepaid phone cardsvalued at more than $270,000to the nonprofit organization to help connect more U.S. military families. AT&T is also providing the nonprofit with a new volume discount for purchasing additional phone cards. These new efforts and donations that support Cell Phones for Soldiers build on the company's additional, ongoing activities to provide more than 50,000 free prepaid phone cards valued at over $450,000 to U.S. military members stationed overseas throughout 2007.
"AT&T has an 85-year tradition of supporting military members, veterans and their families, and this project further extends that commitmentwhen so many military families are separated during this time of conflict," said Tammi Terrell, Vice President and General Manager for AT&T Honolulu. "AT&T is glad to do its part to help keep these families connected."
For more than 85 years, AT&T has remained dedicated to supporting active military personnel, their families and veterans through charitable contributions, sponsorships, the hiring of military veterans and by maintaining policies that support reservists when they are called to duty. Since 2000, AT&T has donated nearly $8 million in free prepaid phone cards to military members and has provided nearly $6 million in grants supporting military members and related nonprofit organizations. The company has also built 70 calling centers for military members stationed in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, to help keep them in touch with their families.
Find More Information Online:
www.att.com" target="_blank">www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=7930
www.att.com" target="_blank">www.att.com/gen/landing-pages?pid=3308
www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/
www.cingular.com/home/