AT&T Wireless Stores to Serve As Cell Phone Recycling Drop-Off Locations for Program that Connects Military Families
AT&T Support for Nonprofit Group "Cell Phones for Soldiers" to Help Drive Used Cell Phone Donations; Funds From Recycling Used to Buy Phone Cards for the Troops Recycling Program Launches in NYC for Memorial Day and Rolls Out Nationwide by July 4th
San Antonio, Texas, May 24, 2007
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) announced today that all AT&T owned wireless store locations nationwide will become wireless phone recycling drop-off sites for a charitable program that benefits U.S. military families. The new recycling program, which was started by two teenagers, was announced just days before Memorial Day and will be available in all company owned stores across the U.S. 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 the donation program in all AT&T owned wireless stores nationwide. This 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 cards — valued at more than $270,000 — to 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 commitment—when so many military families are separated during this time of conflict," said Stan Sigman, AT&T's President and CEO, Wireless. "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.
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