May 3, 2010
By Kim Roberson
Kim Roberson
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There are some people in the world who see a problem, and decide they have to find a way to solve it. Never mind that they are teenagers, and the problem involves millions of dollars and thousands of men and women they have never met.
Allow me to introduce you to Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, ages 19 and 18 respectively.
Six years ago, the then 13-and 12-year-olds heard a story about a soldier stationed overseas who had rung up a $7,000 phone bill by calling his family back here in the States. They decided that no soldier working to keep them safe from harm should have to face such a financial burden, and they emptied out their piggy banks. Inside, they found $21. Realizing they needed more money to help, they started asking their friends to donate their snack money to help the soldier.
With that effort, 'Cell Phones for Soldiers' was born.
This weekend in Richmond, Brittany and Robbie joined with Dale Earnhardt Jr. to let NASCAR fans know about their efforts.
L to R - Robbie, Dale Jr. and Brittany
The kids who started Cell Phones for Soldiers
Photo Kim Roberson
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“In the beginning it started with car washes, bake sales. It was really local. We just wanted to pay off that soldier’s cell bill. And from there, after his bill was waived by T-mobile, (our story) got out on the AP wire, and that is how America found out about us,” Robbie explained when asked how they got the program started. “Brittany got in contact with AT&T by sending a random e-mail to a random name on the AT&T website, and it now turns out she is a huge supporter.“
Once they found a way to help that first soldier, they realized there are thousands of military men and women in the same situation: stationed far from home and running the risk of going into debt just to talk with them. They have reached out to corporate America for help, and are now teaming with GM Military Discount, Chevrolet, NASCAR, and others to provide calling cards to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardsmen stationed outside of the United States.
The program will have displays set up at 15 races this season: Darlington, both Dover races, Charlotte next month, both Pocono races, both Michigan races, Daytona, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Kansas, Fontana and the fall Richmond race; they will also have a display set up at the Indianapolis 500.
“We are encouraging NASCAR fans as they come out to each of the events throughout the year to bring whatever old cell phones they may have laying around--we all know we have them laying around on shelves and in drawers -- to bring them out to the race track and donate them to the program,” Dale Jr. said Saturday when meeting with the teens and media to discuss his role in the project.
Chevrolet is donating space at their display on the midway at each race to accept donations of old cell phones. Drop boxes will be set up where a fan can come by and drop off their old phone. The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone -- enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.
“We know that (the soldiers) are having a difficult time over there, and a difficult time ahead, and anything we can do, any kind of convenience, is a huge thing we can do over here,” Junior explained.
“We’ve received a lot of e-mails from troops who have received the calling cards -- including one that said we give them a little bit of heaven in the middle of a war,” Brittany added.
One of those e-mails is as follows:
“To a military family a phone call is priceless. To hear my husband's voice is comforting, reassuring, and simply makes me feel closer to him. Your program makes that possible for so many. I commend your efforts and success. You not only realized that something should be done... you put it into action. I think you both are incredible. Thank you for your service.”
When asked about the dollar value of the program so far, Brittany announced “We have raised almost $6-million dollars.” They have also provided more than one-million pre-paid calling cards and 60-million minutes of free calling time to our military overseas. That announcement received something extremely rare in the media center -- a resounding round of applause from everyone in the room.
“You just can’t believe something so grass roots can go so far. It shows you what a little dedication and devotion will get you,” added Dale Jr. “It’s amazing what they have been able to do and it’s inspiring. It inspires other people to find ways to bring convenience to the soldiers overseas.
“I feel honored to be up here with these two guys today. They have done such a monumental thing that towers over what little we’ll do today in this race. It’s pretty humbling, and it’s a great feeling knowing there are people like this out there willing to do something for the troops. This is incredible.”
If you would like to help Brittany and Robbie in their efforts to provide free calling cards to troops overseas, you can visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com
, or just bring your used cell phone to any of the tracks I mentioned above and drop it off at the Chevy display on the midway.
You can contact Kim at..