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Sprint Reminds Consumers to Make a Difference during the Holidays by Donating Their Used Wireless Phones to Sprint Project Connect
Sprint Reminds Consumers to Make a Difference during the Holidays by Donating Their Used Wireless Phones to Sprint Project Connect
Published 12-19-02
Submitted by Non Profile
Through Sprint Project ConnectSM, donated wireless phones are either recycled or resold* with a portion of the net proceeds (from resale) benefiting Easter Seals and the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) -- two key organizations that serve people with disabilities. The remaining funds support the Wireless Foundation, a nonprofit association that puts wireless technology to work addressing the challenges of society. Sprint receives no portion of the money raised, and donations may be tax deductible. Phones are accepted at Sprint Stores and Easter Seals locations nationwide.
To date, phones donated through Sprint Project Connect have generated more than $125,000 nationally for Easter Seals and the N.O.D. Additionally, nearly 20,000 phones have been recycled.
"Easter Seals and the National Organization on Disability provide essential programs and services to assist people with disabilities - including treatment, rehabilitation, education and employment," said Len Lauer, president of Sprint's wireless division. "We are proud that Sprint Project Connect has already raised more than $125,000 for these two well respected organizations, while giving consumers a quick and easy way to make a clear difference in the lives of others."
Sprint Project Connect is the first nationwide campaign in support of the Wireless Foundation's Donate a Phone Return Outreach Initiative - a program designed to help wireless carriers raise funds for their charity of choice through the collection of used wireless phones.
"In the coming year alone, the number of estimated wireless handsets lying idle in American homes and businesses could grow to 55 million," said David Diggs, Wireless Foundation executive director. "And, more than 54 million Americans - one-fifth of the population - have a physical, sensory or mental disability. We are pleased to work with Sprint to turn some of these handsets into dollars that will help people with disabilities."
To launch Sprint Project Connect, Sprint contributed $200,000 in April 2002 to Easter Seals and N.O.D.
"In addition to the initial contribution made by the Sprint Foundation, we are generating substantial additional funds through Sprint Project Connect that will make a significant and lasting difference to people with disabilities," said David Thomas, executive director of the Sprint Foundation.
For more information on Sprint Project Connect, please visit www.sprintpcs.com/projectconnect.
*Older and obsolete models of wireless phones will be accepted but may have no value to the Wireless Foundation and thus may not generate funds for Easter Seals and the National Organization on Disability. However, these phones will be recycled in an environmentally sound manner. To learn more about Sprint Project Connect, please visit www.sprintpcs.com/projectconnect.
The Campaign Participants
Easter Seals has been providing services for more than 80 years that help children and adults with disabilities gain greater independence. Its primary services - medical rehabilitation, job training and employment, inclusive child care, adult day services, and camping and recreation - benefit more than 1 million individuals and their families each year through one of 450 centers nationwide. To learn more, visit www.easter-seals.org.
The National Organization on Disability, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2002, promotes the full and equal participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of life. For more information about N.O.D.'s programs, visit www.nod.org.
The Wireless Foundation, founded in 1993, oversees a number of philanthropic programs designed to put wireless technology to work addressing the challenges of society. For additional information on the Wireless Foundation, please visit www.wirelessfoundation.org. The Donate a Phone program is a partnership between the Wireless Foundation and ReCellular, Inc.
ReCellular, Inc. is the world leader in providing profitable solutions for the reuse of used wireless handsets. Founded in 1991, ReCellular has helped pioneer charitable collections and logistics. For more information, please visit www.recellular.com.
About Sprint
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately 75,000 employees worldwide and more than $26 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and Sprint's award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local voice and data services in 18 states and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States.
