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National cell phone drive for troops kicks off locally
By Julie Mullen
For The Courier-News
Last Modified: Aug 23, 2011 02:16AM
DUNDEE TOWNSHIP — The Patriotic Committee of Dundee Township is asking the public to donate their
unwanted cell phones, joining in a national campaign to help keep the more than 150,000 troops overseas
connected with their families.
The Carpentersville-based organization joined forces with Cell Phones for Soldiers, a program that kicked off
nationwide on Saturday with an aim of collecting more than 1 million cell phones this year.
“It is easy for Americans to make a small sacrifice of support by donating their unused cell phones, and providing
families with a much-needed connection to their loved ones overseas,” said Cell Phones for Soldiers co-founder
Brittany Bergquist.
Area residents can support the collection drive by donating cell phones at any First American Bank branch
location, including 261 S. Western Ave. in Carpentersville and 218 W. Main St. in West Dundee.
Donors also can or bring them to the 9-11 Memorial Healing Field event, to be held Sept. 7-11 in Carpenter Park
to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has raised millions of dollars in donations and
distributed millions of prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.
Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to top the $10 million mark in the next five
years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones and prepaid service to allow troops abroad to see their
families on a regular basis.
The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers $5 for each one. The money is
then used to purchase prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops.
Dundee Township Patriot Committee member Jerry Christopherson said his organization’s goal is to collect
10,000 cell phones by the end of the Healing Field event.
“We’re proud to show our support for U.S. soldiers, and to contribute to a worthy cause like Cell Phones for
Soldiers,” Christopherson said. “Ten thousand phones would send $50,000 in pre-paid phone cards to our troops.”
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http://couriernews.suntimes.com/news/7211822-418/national-cell-phone-drive-for-troops-...
8/24/2011