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Nextel Supports American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services
Written by
Mason Booth
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Thursday, August 14, 2003 — “This is one event where we won’t ask you to turn your cell phones off,” laughed Marty Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross, at Wednesday’s official launch of Donate A Phone®, a unique fundraising effort by Nextel to support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services.
Marty Evans, President and CEO of the American Red Cross, thanked Nextel for its past and continued support of the humanitarian organization.
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Through December 2003, Nextel is calling on the public to bring their old wireless phones from any manufacturer, make or model to any of its 450-plus retail stores nationwide. Cash donations to the American Red Cross will also be accepted at each of these stores.
The proceeds from recycled phones and all cash donations will go directly to the American Red Cross to support the organization’s Armed Forces Emergency Services, a program that gives a shoulder for military families to lean on and delivers emergency communication to families separated from their loved ones serving in the armed forces around the world.
"Nextel has a long history of supporting the American Red Cross in its vital mission,” said Morgan O’Brien, Vice Chairman and founder, Nextel Communications. “We saw Donate A Phone® as another way to do something concrete to help the Armed Forces Emergency Services during these trying times."
For more than a hundred years, the American Red Cross has bridged the communications gap between men and women of the armed forces and their families back home. Through a worldwide communication network that includes staff who live and work alongside troops, the Red Cross delivers urgent news of death, serious illness or birth to anywhere in the world, including to ships at sea and isolated military units where picking up a phone and calling home is virtually impossible.
In recent months, however, these critical services have been put to the test. The American Red Cross served a record number of more than 20,000 service members and their families during March of this year alone. An average of 14,500 families were served each month prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Morgan O'Brien, Vice Chairman and founder, Nextel Communications, outlined how the Donate A Phone® program will work, and urged the public to help support the men and woman of the U.S. military.
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The organization estimates it will need approximately $8 million over the next several months to facilitate emergency communication, mobilize and deploy workers to affected areas, reach out to National Guard/Reservists and their families, and provide other vital services.
Emotional Testimonial Speaks Volumes About American Red Cross Services
One of the families the American Red Cross had the privilege to help was Lily Livesay and her husband Chris, an Army Sergeant injured during combat in Baghdad while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Everyone knows that the American Red Cross helps people....people like those whose homes have recently been destroyed by tornadoes. People who have needed the blood we were taught was our duty, our privilege to donate. Or like me, the wife of a soldier injured in combat while serving the American people,” said Lily. “I did not expect to need the American Red Cross. Who does?”
In March, Lily’s worst fears were realized when she received a call from military officials notifying her that her husband had been injured and was being flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. for treatment.
When her husband was injured during combat in Baghdad, Lily Livesay found support with the American Red Cross.
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”“As the wife of a soldier, I knew what could happen. We planned for the unexpected,” Lily said. “Just like we hoped and prayed that what we are going through now would never happen, one hopes one will never need the American Red Cross. Oh, but when you find yourself in dire need of help, words fail to express the gratitude you feel when you know the Red Cross is there.”
After a long day of sitting by her husband’s side at the hospital, an exhausted Lily returned to her hotel, only to discover the Red Cross had already paid her bill.
"My family and I are extremely grateful for the support of the American Red Cross during this difficult time," Lily said. "I was taught to be stoic, reserving tears for private moments. But after a long day and night at the hospital, I must admit that I gave in to emotions, no longer holding back my tears, when the desk clerk at the hotel told me that the American Red Cross was covering the cost of my room. My attention could be focused on my husband instead of on paying bills."
After thanking Nextel for the Donate A Phone® program and the Red Cross for being there when she needed them, Lily urged the American public to help support the troops who dedicate their lives to protect them.
“April 7, my life, my family's, life changed forever. The unexpected happened. I got the call that military wives fear. Our faith in God, our love for one another and the support of the American Red Cross is making this journey much smoother that it would have been otherwise,” she said. “Chris and I certainly have a couple of old phones we will be donating as soon as we get home, and I hope that our story will motivate others to do the same.”
Your Help is Needed
The American Red Cross is not a government agency. We rely on the assistance of caring supporters like you to deliver our critical services. You can support U.S. military members and their families through the American Red Cross as we provide assistance and comfort. Your gift will support the nationally coordinated Red Cross services provided to military families across the country and to American service men and women located throughout the world. Please make a financial donation to Armed Forces Emergency Services by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions may be sent to the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services, P. O. Box 91820, Washington, DC 20090. Secure online credit card donations can be made by visiting www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html.
To locate a Nextel retail store, click here.
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