Cell Phones for Soldiers visits NASCAR tracks this season

DETROIT (May 2, 2010) – Helping American troops keep in touch with their loved ones is now as easy as bringing a gently used mobile phone to a NASCAR event. Cell Phones for Soldiers raises money through the collection of gently used mobile phones and will have drop-off boxes at 16 race events in 2010 (schedule below). In addition to helping troops call home, the first 100 fans donating gently used phones at each track will receive a hat, courtesy of the GM Military Discount program. During the last six years, Cell Phones for Soldiers has provided more than one million pre-paid calling cards and 60 million minutes of calling time to soldiers overseas. Cell Phones for Soldiers, a non-profit organization started in 2004 by 12- and 13-year-old siblings Robbie and Brittany Bergquist with just $21 of their own money, raises funds through the collection of gently used mobile phones, which are then refurbished or recycled. Each year, more than 130 million cell phones are decommissioned in the United States alone. “NASCAR fans are very patriotic, and this is one more way in which the fans can support our military personnel and assist the Cell Phones for Soldiers’ mission of helping troops call home,” said Terry Dolan, manager, Chevy Racing. “We are looking forward to Cell Phones for Soldiers being at selected race tracks during the 2010 season and hope that the fans find this to be a convenient way to help out such a worthy effort.” Fans not able to attend a race can visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com for information on how to donate at one of 3,000 collection points nationwide or to download a pre-paid, pre-addressed mailing label. Once collected, the phones are processed by ReCellular, the world’s largest recycler of used mobile devices, and the phones are either refurbished and sold or recycled under strict EPA guidelines. Cell Phones for Soldiers then utilizes the money from reselling the devices to purchase pre-paid calling cards to benefit the more than 200,000 troops stationed at military bases around the world. Robbie and Brittany Bergquist began Cell Phones for Soldiers after they saw a news story on television about a soldier stationed overseas who had run up a $7,000 phone bill by calling his family. Robbie and Brittany took $21 out of their piggy banks and suggested that their friends donate their snack money to help the soldier. Chevrolet is supporting Cell Phones for Soldiers by providing locations at the race tracks for drop boxes. Also, General Motors supports military personnel by providing discounts for active duty members and Reserves of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, National Guard and Coast Guard. For more information on the GM Military Discount, visit www.gmmilitarydiscount.com. 2010 Cell Phones For Soldiers NASCAR Trackside Schedule: April 30-May 1 -- Richmond (Va.) International Raceway May 7-8 -- Darlington (S.C.) Raceway May 14-16 -- Dover (Del.) International Speedway May 27-29 -- Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway June 4-6 -- Pocono Raceway June 11-13 -- Michigan International Speedway July 2-3 -- Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 23-25 -- Indianapolis Motor Speedway July 30-Aug. 1 -- Pocono Raceway Aug. 13-15 -- Michigan International Speedway Sept. 3-5 -- Atlanta Motor Speedway Sept. 10-11 -- Richmond (Va.) International Raceway Sept. 24-26 -- Dover (Del.) International Speedway Oct. 1-3 -- Kansas Speedway Oct. 8-10 -- Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.