Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc.

Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides pre-paid calling cards and free phone services to deployed and returning military members. The organization was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old, with only $21. CPFS relies on generous donors for cash contributions and funds raised by the recycling of used cell phones.

Used cell phones are collected and recycled. The funds raised by this green effort fuel a large portion of the program. Phones can be donated by printing a postage-paid shipping label or by locating a drop-off site at www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

Cell Phones for Soldiers Fast Facts

• Raised more than $7 million and provided more than 114 million minutes of free talk time
• Approximately 12,000 calling cards are mailed each week
• A $5 donation warrants 2.5 hours of talk time; a $100.00 donation gives 50 hours or 3,000 minutes of talk time
• Since 2004 more than 8.3 million cell phones have been recycled, reducing the impact on landfills
• CPFS has set a challenging goal of providing 750,000 communication tools to troops in 2011 alone
• There are approximately 15,000 collection points across the nation, collecting phones for the charity
• A family-run, non-profit organization operated almost exclusively by Bob, Gail, Brittany, Robbie and Courtney Bergquist.