As the Fourth of July approaches, State Rep. Bill Kramer, R-Waukesha, is teaming up with AT&T to encourage area residents to recycle their old cell phones and help support U.S. military troops abroad. 

“Our soldiers serving overseas put their lives on the line for this country in dangerous and often deadly situations every day,” Rep. Kramer said.  “We can never thank them enough for their service and sacrifice.  By recycling our old cell phones, we can support our troops and show our gratitude by helping them stay in touch with their families while they are away from home.” 

Wireless customers are encouraged to drop off their old cell phones at any of area AT&T stores, including: 

• 17365 W. Bluemound Road, Brookfield
• 3825 N. 124th Street, Brookfield
• 3604 S. Moorland Road, New Berlin
• 2500 N Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa

 Before donating devices, individuals should remove any SIM card, erase their data and restore their device to factory settings.

The phones will be donated to Cell Phones for Soldiers – a charity that uses recycling proceeds to buy and send free phone cards to military members stationed away from home. The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was founded in 2004 by then teenagers Brittany and Robbie Bergquist as a way for military families serving overseas to keep in touch with family back home.

AT&T is also working with the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) to collect donated cell phones from state employees throughout the Year of the Veteran.  AT&T collection boxes will be located in the Governor’s Office, the Capitol Rotunda and the DOA lobby. 

Since July 2007, AT&T and its customers have supported Cell Phones for Soldiers.  In the past six years, AT&T has donated more than $4 million and distributed more than 600,000 AT&T prepaid calling cards to servicemen and women overseas.  

AT&T has also recently launched a new trade-in program that makes sure that customers’ old devices are reused or recycled.  The program pays customers for qualified trade-ins, or lets them donate the value of old devices to Cell Phones for Soldiers. 

“Every day of the year, our soldiers protect and serve our country, and we want to serve them,” said Tricia Conway, Director of External Affairs for AT&T Wisconsin.  “While we can never thank our troops enough, we can show that that their sacrifice is not forgotten and always deeply appreciated through this Cell Phones for Soldiers drive.”

In addition, AT&T announced this week another partnership with the founders of Cell Phones for Soldiers to support a new initiative called “Helping Heroes Home.”  The program is designed to provide emergency funds for veterans returning home.  AT&T is supporting Helping Heroes Home by donating more than $450,000 to address the communication needs facing veterans today.  Those needs can entail cell phone access, cell phone service, Internet service and/or any communication need within AT&T’s comprehensive telecommunications portfolios.

In addition, through AT&T’s Causes.com community page, Connect for Good, the Helping Heroes Home program could receive up to an additional $50,000.  AT&T will donate $2 when an individual watches the Helping Heroes Home through Connect for Good video and $1 when that person shares it with friends.

For more information, please visit www.att.com/troopsupport, www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com and www.helpingheroeshomes.org.