Opportunity for Race Fans to Support Troops – At No Cost
DETROIT – Race fans visiting Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 23-25 can help American troops keep in touch with their loved ones – simply by bringing to the track a gently used cell phone.
Cell Phones for Soldiers
Cell Phones for Soldiers raises money through the collection of gently used mobile phones and will have drop-off boxes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Brickyard 400. In addition to helping troops call home, the first 100 fans donating gently used phones will receive a hat, courtesy of the GM Military Discount program. Over the last six years, Cell Phones for Soldiers has provided more than 1 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.
“I want to urge race fans as they come out to each of the events throughout the year to bring whatever old cell phones they may have laying around – and we all know that we’ve got several stored away in shelves and drawers at our homes – and bring them out to the race track and donate them to the program,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevy’s spokesman for Cell Phones for Soldiers. “Everybody who comes out to the race track can participate.”
Fans not attending the races this weekend can visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com for more information on how to donate at one of the more than 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.
Chevrolet is supporting Cell Phones for Soldiers by providing locations at the race tracks for drop boxes. At IMS, the drop boxes will be located in the Team Chevy Racing Display, which will be located inside the track, near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday. 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.
About Chevrolet: Chevrolet is a global automotive brand, with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers “gas-friendly to gas-free” solutions including the Cruze Eco and Volt, both arriving in late 2010. Cruze Eco will offer up to 40 mpg highway while the Chevrolet Volt will offer up to 40 miles of electric, gas-free driving and an additional 300 miles of extended range (based on GM testing; official EPA estimates not yet available). Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.
- Team Chevy, Press Release
