Soldiers' Angels Unveils New Text-to-Donate for Military Support

/PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit Soldiers' Angels today announced a new way to support the troops just by using a cell phone. Patriotic Americans can now text "Soldiers" to 20222 to donate $5 toward care packages, assistance for wounded warriors, and support for veterans and their families.

A volunteer-based nonprofit awarded the prestigious Spirit of Hope by the Department of Defense, Soldiers' Angels has a long history of using high tech and social media platforms to motivate volunteers and donations. From raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through military and political blogs to winning a Twitter-based "Social Media Makeover" competition last summer, Soldiers' Angels has demonstrated a continuing commitment to using all available technological resources in its mission to support the troops.

"We are so excited to give Americans this great, cutting-edge way to help make sure our heroes receive the support they need in this time of war," said founder Patti Patton-Bader. "Five dollars really is a modest amount of money, but it adds up so quickly and means so much to our efforts. With text-to-donate we are continuing to use the latest technology to draw more Americans into this important work."

Along with text-to-donate, Soldiers' Angels is rolling out its new Mobile Support Club. Members of the club will receive up to four monthly alerts and updates on events, projects, soldier stories, support needs and much more, right on their mobile phones. Supporters can sign up automatically by texting "Soldiers" to 20222 to donate $5, or by visiting www.soldiersangels.org and clicking on the "Stay Connected" graphic.

Established in 2003, Soldiers' Angels is an award-winning 501(c)(3) with hundreds of thousands of volunteers providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families through a wide variety of hands-on projects and volunteerism. For more information, visit www.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415

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Cell Phones for Soldiers Announces Free Phone Program for Returning Troops

/PRNewswire/ -- In response to a growing need to support military members returning from active duty, Cell Phones for Soldiers today announced an expansion of their services by offering free cell phones to all armed forces returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To achieve this goal, the charity is calling on all Americans to donate their old phones to the cause. The free phones are drawn from those donated by individuals and corporations; to achieve this goal, an additional 1 million phones will need to be donated in 2010.

"With tens of thousands of our brave troops returning from active duty this year, the need to help them get back on their feet here at home has never been greater," said Brittany Bergquist, cofounder of Cell Phones for Soldiers. "We are thrilled to be able to provide this tremendous service to our brave men and women."

The Helping Heroes Home campaign relies on the donations of used phones. Qualifying phones are refurbished and given to requesting soldiers along with a month of calling time. Other donated phones will either be recycled or used to fund the charity's free calling-card program for troops overseas.

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by brother and sister Robbie and Brittany Bergquist. To date, they have provided more than 60,000,000 minutes of free calling cards thanks to a national network of individual and corporate supporters donating phones and money.

"There are more than 130 million phones retired every year in the United States," said Robbie Bergquist, cofounder of Cell Phones for Soldiers. "If just 2% of all American's were to donate their phones, we could supply every troop with a phone as a small measure of the gratitude of a nation."

Sponsors for this initiative include the Consumer Electronics Association, One Source Inc. and ReCellular Inc.

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Holiday Wreath Laying Ceremony at Pentagon Memorial

/PRNewswire/ -- Wreaths Across America is a non-profit organization that donates 5000+ Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery each year. This year, Ms. Kathryn Cross, a Gold Star Mother who is leading the Wreaths Across America effort, personally secured enough donated wreaths for all three of the 9/11 memorials including the Pentagon Memorial. The donation was made possible by the Worcester Wreath Company and Wal-Mart Corporation who are donating the wreaths as a gesture to honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001. The wreaths will be delivered as part of a convoy traveling to each of the three 9/11 memorials.

Wreaths Across America plans to deliver the wreaths to the Pentagon Memorial Thursday afternoon, December 10 . On Friday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m., Wreaths Across America and the Pentagon Memorial Fund will conduct a short wreath laying ceremony. Representatives of the Pentagon, Pentagon Memorial Fund and family members of the victims will be in attendance. Similar ceremonies will be taking place in New York City and Shanksville, PA on December 12th.

WHO: James J. Laychak, President of the Pentagon Memorial Fund
Morrill Worchester, Founder of Wreaths Across America

WHAT: Holiday Wreath Laying Ceremony

WHEN: Friday December 11, 2009
3:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Pentagon Memorial
South Parking Lot of the Pentagon

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