Con-way Freight Teams Up with Cell Phones For Soldiers
Non-profit Turns Recycled Cell Phones into Calling Cards for Overseas Service Members to Phone Home
FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Con-way Freight, a less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier and subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), has teamed up with nonprofit Cell Phones For Soldiers to support the organization's mission of helping deployed troops stay connected with their families.
Cell Phones For Soldiers collects donations of used cell phones, which are then purchased by a local electronics recycling firm. The recycling partner disassembles the phones, strips them of salvageable components, and then responsibly recycles any remaining materials or refurbishes newer phones for resale.
Cell Phones For Soldiers then converts the cash from the recycled phones into long-distance calling cards, which are then provided to soldiers overseas, enabling them to call home at no cost. Each donated and recycled cell phone equates to 30 minutes of free call time.
Con-way Freight recently lent its support to this effort by providing in-kind freight transportation services, delivering three pallets of donated phones — over 2,500 cell phones — to the local Fort Worth recycler. This specific donation will provide approximately 76,500 minutes of calling time for soldiers overseas. Later this month, Con-way Freight will provide a similar contribution of in-kind freight transportation services to bring in several more pallets of donated phones.
"Supporting our servicemen and women is a cause we take seriously, as evidenced by a variety of veteran-focused programs and partnerships throughout the company," said Greg Lehmkuhl, president of Con-way Freight. "No price can be put on the ability to call a loved one while deployed overseas, so we are proud to be a transportation partner for Cell Phones For Soldiers."
"On behalf of Cell Phones For Soldiers and the troops that benefit from it, I'd like to thank Con-way Freight for their generous donation of time and manpower," said Robbie Bergquist, one of the organization's founders. "Their efforts on behalf of our military personnel allow us to further our mission of providing cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans."
Cell Phones For Soldiers has been providing communication capabilities to both active-duty members of the military and veterans since 2004 through its Minutes That Matter program. This program distributes free calling cards to active-duty military members to connect with loved ones. The organization's other program, Helping Heroes Home, provides veterans with emergency funds to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships.
The public can learn more about the organization, find cell phone drop-off sites and donate directly at www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
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About Cell Phones For Soldiers
Cell Phones For Soldiers Inc. is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans. Founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old, Cell Phones For Soldiers has provided more than 210 million "Minutes That Matter" to servicemen and women. Since 2012, "Helping Heroes Home" has provided emergency funds for more than 2,500 veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest pages.
About Con-way Freight
Con-way Freight is the industry's leading less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation company, providing guaranteed, day-definite regional and transcontinental service with exception-free delivery, on-time service performance and faster transit times through a single, unified network of more than 425 service locations serving the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Con-way Freight offers LTL freight transportation across North America and through Global LTL™ delivery in the United States from around the world. Global solutions include international less-than-container (LCL) ocean shipments from Asia through its OceanGuaranteed® service; U.S. and Europe delivery for inbound and outbound international cargoes through an exclusive alliance with TNT; direct service to more than 30 Bahamian and Caribbean ports; and domestic offshore transportation to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Con-way Freight is a certified FAST highway carrier and is C-TPAT/PIP, ACE- and CSA-certified.
Con-way Freight is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), a $5.5 billion diversified freight transportation and logistics services company. For more information, visit www.con-way.com/en/freight.
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SOURCE Con-way Freight
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