Cell Phones For Soldiers is a nonprofit organization that provides free communication services and emergency funding to active-duty and veteran military personnel. So far, Cell Phones for Soldiers has recycled 25 million phones to help the many veterans who lack the resources or access they need.
Twenty years ago, Rob Bergquist and his sister Brittany Bergquist, 13 and 14 years old, saw a local news story in Natick about a soldier struggling to pay his $8,000 cell phone bill while serving in Afghanistan. Moved by the situation, they donated their piggy bank money and organized community events to raise funds, ultimately paying off the soldier’s bill. And this experience also sparked a mission, leading to the creation of the nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Pulse 2.0 interviewed Cell Phones For Soldiers co-founder and director Rob Bergquist to learn more about the nonprofit.
Rob Bergquist’s Background
What is Rob Bergquist’s background? Bergquist said:
“I grew up in the small suburban town of Norwell just south of Boston, MA alongside my 2 sisters Brittany and Courtney. A typical middle-class family, my parents were both public school teachers in Norwell and Weymouth, MA. I loved playing sports and often spent my entire weekends being driven between the hockey rink and soccer fields. Soccer became my one true passion and led me to play at the Division 1 level attending UMass Amherst.”
“Cell Phones for Soldiers entered my life at the ripe age of 12 so some of my earliest memories are traveling around the country with my parents while trying to get homework done for classes I had missed! It was quite the balancing act. Learning how the nonprofit worked at a young age inspired me to choose a business major at the Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts-Amherst and has prepared me to continue this mission 20 years later.”
Formation Of Cell Phones For Soldiers
How did the idea for the company come together? Bergquist shared:
“The idea for Cell Phones For Soldiers came together 20 years ago after seeing a news story about a soldier in Natick, Massachusetts who was calling home from overseas and racked up an $8,000 cell phone bill that he couldn’t afford to pay. At the time, my two cousins were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, so my sister Brittany and I decided we needed to help. We collected spare change from friends and family, held car washes and bake sales, and eventually paid off the soldier’s entire bill. Little did we know this was the start of our non-profit, which is now celebrating our 20th anniversary by supporting soldiers and veterans with communication services.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Bergquist reflected:
“One of my favorite memories, especially in the infancy of the non-profit when I was a kid, was all the amazing news engagements my sister and I got to participate in. Whether it was through Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, Good Morning America, or Fox News, among others, I’ve cherished and continue to cherish the chance to share our mission that helps impact the lives of active military personnel and veterans. One of the highlights for us was our participation in CNN’s ‘On The Record, With Greta Van Susteren’ in 2005.”
“At the ages of 13 and 14, Brittany and I shared our new initiative live on air to take donated devices from the public, put minutes on the phones, and send them overseas to deployed service members. While this initial plan had to be pivoted due to national security concerns, it was an exciting breakthrough moment for the organization in its early days.”
Core Program Initiatives
What are the company’s core program initiatives? Bergquist explained:
“Cell Phones for Soldiers has three key programs at our roots: Minutes That Matter, Helping Heroes Home, and Cell Phones for Soldiers Mobile.”
“The Minutes That Matter program drives the simple mission to help active-duty military deployed receive the needed funding to call back home while overseas. More than 400 million minutes of free talk time has been provided by sending more than 5 million calling cards overseas.”
“Launched in 2012, the Helping Heroes Home Program was created to provide veterans with one-time grants that help transition them into civilian life.”
“Most recently we launched the Cell Phones for Soldiers Mobile program. At its root, the program will provide veterans with a free phone and a year of paid phone service. By partnering with an MVNO, we can provide an affordable monthly plan to give back to our heroes at home. We aim to make it easy for veterans to connect with loved ones, seek employment opportunities, and contact veteran resources.”
Evolution Of Cell Phones For Soldiers
How has the company’s services evolved since launching? Bergquist noted:
“Celebrating our 20th anniversary this year, Cell Phones for Soldiers has adapted and grown over the years to best assist the needs of the active-duty military and veteran community. It all began in 2004 with a simple mission: to provide deployed soldiers with calling cards, providing a lifeline to their loved ones back home. As the communication needs of active-duty service members and veterans have evolved, so too has Cell Phones for Soldiers. More recently the Cell Phones for Soldiers Program was born. Now, donated phones find new purpose landing directly in the hands of veterans in need, connecting them with the resources they require to assimilate into civilian life. From job opportunities to healthcare support, every call made with these devices builds a bridge to a brighter future.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Bergquist cited:
“Over the years Cell Phones for Soldiers has had the privilege of celebrating milestones around the growth and impacts we’ve had. This year is especially important as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. Starting from our garage in 2004 to having over 3,000+ drop-off locations across the United States, we are proud to reflect and celebrate our tremendous growth and impact on the military community.”
Success Stories
When asking Bergquist about success stories, he highlighted:
“One great success story comes from our work with Jim Lindenmayer, founder of the Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program. As Jim shared, “The Cell Phones for Soldiers program now provides the most needed tool to help Veterans who are homeless.” Our new programs help provide smartphones and mobile service plans enabling homeless veterans to stay connected to the support services they need to get back on their feet.”
“We’ve supported thousands of active military and veterans over the years, helping connect them in the technologically driven world we live in. No connection can be made without donations. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the people and organizations who work with us to make these success stories possible.”
Metrics
When asking Bergquist about the nonprofit’s metrics, he revealed:
“I’m proud to share some of the outcomes Cell Phones for Soldiers have made over the years. Since 2004, we have recycled over 25 million cell phones. By responsibly recycling these donated devices, and diverting them from landfills, we’ve reduced carbon emissions by 1.725 billion kg CO2. This is a significant environmental benefit that aligns with our mission of promoting sustainability and reducing waste.”
“In addition to the environmental impact, the revenue generated from recycling these phones has allowed us to provide over 400 million minutes of free airtime to service members deployed around the world. As our Cell Phones for Soldiers program continues to grow we look forward to reporting on the number of phones we’ve provided veterans.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Bergquist pointed out:
“As we are celebrating our 20th anniversary, we are excited to commemorate 20 years of service by setting the goal of connecting 20,000 veterans in the next three years. With a strong emphasis on expanding the Cell Phones for Soldiers Mobile program, we aim to provide more veterans with smartphones in the coming years, enabling them to stay connected to vital support services, seek employment opportunities, access healthcare, and enhance their overall well-being.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics to discuss? Bergquist concluded:
“At Cell Phones For Soldiers, we are always looking for ways to expand our mission of supporting active-duty troops, veterans, and their families. While we are proud to have recycled millions of phones, provided hundreds of millions of minutes of free talk time, and impacted countless lives, we know there is still much more work to be done. Countless nonprofits aim to provide vital support towards mental health, career transition, youth programs, financial assistance, and more. With over 1.4 million active duty service members and over 16.5 million veterans facing unique challenges, there are ample opportunities to get involved and make a difference.”
