Chevrolet Helps Get 11,000 Hours Talk Time for Soldiers

Eleven thousand hours of talk time won’t bring far away relatives physically closer, but it can go a long way in curing homesickness for soldiers overseas.

Chevrolet’s efforts in the Cell Phones for Soldiers program so far has helped collect 20,000 cell phones, more than enough to provide 2,200 pre-paid calling cards with 300 minutes each to a group of soldiers in Afghanistan.

“These cards will provide our camp population with six months worth of calls, more than enough to call home for every holiday or family event from Thanksgiving to Mother’s Day,” said Col. Liana L. Bratland, Director of Human Resources/CJ1 for NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan. “That connection to home is a big morale booster for the troops and their families.” 

As an extension of the GM Military Discount Program, Chevrolet has been supporting Cell Phones for Soldiers since May. To date, Chevrolet has helped collect more phones for the cause at collection boxes in a variety of locations from General Motors headquarters to auto shows around the country.

In the days leading to Thanksgiving, Chevy is partnering with the Livonia Public Schools in suburban Detroit to host a contest among six schools to see which can collect the most used cell phones. Chevy is providing an additional 2, 000 prepaid calling cards and that students can send to troops serving overseas.

“Many of our own students have family members who have served overseas,” said Dr. Randy Liepa, Superintendent of Livonia Public Schools. “We look forward to working with Cell Phones for Soldiers and Chevrolet to support the families who are sacrificing their holidays to serve our country.”

All phones collected for Cell Phones for Soldiers are recycled, and the proceeds are used to purchase prepaid calling cards for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The registered 501(C)3 was founded in 2004 by brother and sister Robbie and Brittany Bergquist.  To date, they have provided more than 60 million minutes of free calling cards through a national network of individual and corporate supporters.

For more information, please visit www.gmmilitarydiscount.com.

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Smart Phones Do GM Key-Fob Job

Drivers of most 2011 General Motors Co. vehicles will be able to use a smart phone to carry out functions usually found on a key fob, such as remote starting, activating the horn and lights, and remote locking and unlocking of doors.

Using a mobile phone means features can be controlled regardless of the driver's distance from the car. For instance, a traveler who forgets to lock the car at the airport can send a locking signal from the terminal. OnStar subscribers will be able to get diagnostic information via phone, such as fuel tank level, remaining oil life, recommended tire pressure and average mile per gallon driven.

Phillips Chevrolet has Illinois' Largest Chevy Inventory! We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are one of the Largest Chevy Dealers in the United States. Visit us at www.phillipschevy.com. View our specials!

Chevrolet Raising $1 Million to Help Troops Call Home

As an extension of the GM Military Discount program, Chevrolet is launching a year-long campaign to raise $1 million to support Cell Phones for Soldiers.

To reach that goal, Chevrolet is calling on GM employees, NASCAR fans, and Chevrolet dealers across the country to donate unwanted, gently used cell phones for recycling. Proceeds will be used to provide pre-paid calling cards to troops serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“We feel Cell Phones for Soldiers is a worthy cause that fits well with GM’s long-standing commitment to support the men and women serving our country,” said Mark Degnan, GM director of Local Advertising, Marketing and Training. “Personally, with a brother and a nephew in active duty in Iraq, I know how important every call home can be for soldiers overseas, and their families at home.”

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

Cell Phones for Soldiers recently announced a new campaign to offer free cell phones to armed forces returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Returning troops can receive a refurbished phone, preloaded with a month’s worth of calling time, to help them restart their lives after active duty.

To help raise funds for Cell Phones for Soldiers, Chevrolet’s effort will include:

• Encouraging all 77,000 GM employees in the United States to donate their used personal phones to the program.

• Placing collection boxes for used cell phones at Chevrolet dealers nationwide.

• Introducing Cell Phones for Soldiers to millions of race fans at 16 Chevy Racing events throughout the 2010 race season (schedule below). In May, Dale Earnhardt Jr. introduced Cell Phones for Soldiers to NASCAR fans at Richmond International Raceway.

Individuals who would like to support the cause also can download a pre-paid mailing label at www.gmmilitarydiscount.com/phone, to ship donations of one to 100 used cell phones.

“There are more than 130 million phones retired every year in the United States,” said Robbie Bergquist, “If just 2 percent of Americans were to donate their unwanted phones, we could supply every soldier with a free call home – and a small measure of our national gratitude.”

Cell Phones for Soldiers will be featured at these Chevy Racing Events in 2010:

July 2-3 Daytona
July 23-25 Indianapolis
July 30-August 1 Pocono
August 13-15 Michigan
September 3-5 Atlanta
September 10-11 Richmond
September 24-26 Dover
October 1-3 Kansas
October 8-10 Fontana

Phillips Chevrolet has Illinois' Largest Chevy Inventory! We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are one of the Largest Chevy Dealers in the United States. Visit us at www.phillipschevy.com. View our specials!

CHEVY JOINS “NO PHONE ZONE” CAMPAIGN

Chevrolet joined the “No Phone Zone” campaign, created by Oprah Winfrey and Harpo Studios, to prevent distracted driving. General Motors Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre, along with UAW employees from GM’s Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, announced Chevrolet’s support of the campaign in a taped segment during “The Oprah Winfrey Show” dedicated to the first national “No Phone Zone” Day.

The campaign is dedicated to honoring the lives lost due to distracted driving, educating the public about the dangers of distracted driving and activating people to make a difference in their communities. As part of the campaign, drivers are encouraged to take the “No Phone Zone” pledge. The pledge asks motorists to commit to:

Not text while driving
Not text while driving, and use only hands-free calling
Not text or use the phone while driving, and pull over to a secure location if they need to make a call

In addition to Whitacre’s appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, Chevrolet will lead an internal campaign to encourage the more than 77,000 General Motors employees in the U.S. to take the “No Phone Zone” pledge. Chevrolet will also sponsor more than 400 public service announcement (PSA) broadcasts for the “No Phone Zone” campaign.

Phillips Chevrolet has Illinois' Largest Chevy Inventory! We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and are one of the Largest Chevy Dealers in the United States. Visit us at www.PhillipsChevrolet.com.