Cell Phones for Soldiers Mission:

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States military.

Cell Phones for Soldiers Fast Facts:

Since 2004, Cell Phones for Soldiers...

• Raised more than $7 million and provided more than 114 million minutes of free talk time
• Mails approximately 12,000 calling cards each week
• Recycled more than 8.3 million cell phones, reducing the impact on landfills
• Anticipates the launch of a new program, Helping Heroes Home, to provide returning troops with 30-days of free phone service following deployment.
• Has remained a family-run, non-profit 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. In seven years, the registered 501(c)(3) has provided troops with more than 2 million pre-paid calling cards, equating to 114 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 raised more than $7 million in donations and collected more than 8.3 million cellular devices.

"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."

Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise additional funds to support new programs such as providing phones with prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to talk to their families on a regular basis.

View the awards and recognition Cell Phones for Soldiers has received »