Please note: The used cell phone market has changed dramatically since mid-2004.
A number of the testimonies below pre-date mid-2004, before the market tightened up.
Cell phone technology advancements have virtually eliminated the demand for older cell phones.
The demand for specific models and features now determines the value for a cell phone.
Do not expect phones without new technology to have any value.
However, we will recycle phones without value and shipping is free.
Please see www.cellfund.com/phonelist.htm for more information.
"Thank you for your check for $594.02 which has been designated toward preparing a shepherding home for troubled women
to change their lives," writes the Chrysalis Shepherding Home in Carthage, IL. "We have appreciated our association with your organization and would not hesitate to recommend
this fundraiser to others (and have done so)." [June 2005]
At first, Manhattan College Service Trips in the Bronx was unsure what to do.
"We mailed postcards home to all of our student body during the [2003] Christmas break,
reminding them to bring their used cell phones back for the Spring semester.
We also have a friend at our local Motorola office (in New Jersey) who helped collect close to 300 phones for us."
The result? CellFund sent them a check in April 2004 for $2,899.90!
"Our suggestions to other groups – local outreach is critical.
See which cell phone companies have offices in your area:
their employees are constantly getting new phones.
As a college, our next approach is going to be to our local churches. They are always supportive of us...
Being a small college, every penny helps – and the CellFund program is a great way to do it.
Thank you for all your support."
"The program proved to be a big success," writes Tom
Leisen of Lord Of Life Lutheran Church in Maple
Grove, Minnesota. They raised $812.00 with one shipment of phones.
"We were able to receive a substantial contribution to our
fund-raising with a minimal amount of work. The program was well
organized and all the materials we needed to make it happen were
available to us on line. I would highly recommend this program
to others looking for new fund-raising ideas. I have no doubt
we will use your service again."
Victory Christian Fellowship in Cranberry Township,
Pennsylvania, received over $1,800.00 for two CellFund shipments.
"The CellFund Program has helped us raise over $1,000.00 for
our charity to feed and clothe needy children. It's been a great
way to turn unusable items into cash to benefit the needy," says
Danny Collins, Executive Director of Emergency Infant
Services in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
First United Pentecostal Church in Anchorage
received $1,456.00 from one CellFund shipment. Pastor Jeff Bartlett
writes, “Our
Youth did a good job collecting phones. We found it more profitable
to work smarter, not harder. We talked to all the people we knew
who worked for or related to cell phone companies. They did all
the hard work and all the phones came to us within one week! We
keep our collection boxes throughout the city but our major drives
are through our great connections... Thank you.”
In Oklahoma during the 2002-2003 school year, the Bixby
High School National Honor Society received a $1,092.00
check from CellFund for one collection of cell phones.
Jody Osterholt, All Saints Youth Minister,
Lake St. Louis, Missouri, writes: “I can attest to the fact
that CellFund was an easy and rewarding fund raising opportunity
for our Youth group.” Her group has shipped twice with
CellFund and earned $728.00.
Pastor Jeanne Huiett of Hope International Ministries
in Indianapolis received $483.00 from one shipment. She says, “Please
send us our shipment tags! We have more to send now. 113 of
them are ready to go again.
Thanks and your program is wonderful!”
Through CellFund referrals and its own CellFund phone collection,
former President Jack Maxwell writes that “our Rotary
Club of Bixby has collected over $1,500.00 from CellFund
in the past 7 months with relatively little work on our part.
I don't think we have scratched the surface!”
Parkwood High School PTSO in Waxhaw, North
Carolina, has shipped three times. “CellFund
is an excellent company to work with,” writes Julie Angermeier.
“I would describe CellFund as a very dedicated, caring,
and efficient group of people who do their best to help their
customer. They are very prompt in helping when we have a question,
and very prompt in sending us our checks. :) Thanks for all your
hard work.”
Ann Carpenter with the Christian Student Center
in Baton Rouge received $595.00 from CellFund. “Cellfund was the
easiest fundraiser I have ever experienced. It produced great
returns
that allowed many teens to go on a mission trip to Mexico and
help children in that country. Thanks again and God bless.”
"It was an easy way to raise funds," says Kathy Turner
of the Bentonville/Bella Vista Rotary Club in
Arkansas. "We told each member to just check their drawers
at home and ask four friends to check theirs. And it seemed to
expand from there." Her Club raised $819.00 with two
CellFund shipments.
Christ Church in Charlotte received $518.00
from CellFund during the 2002-2003 school year. Todd Skinner writes,
"Everyone has used cell phones...
that are just left in a drawer. We found the CellFund
process to be very effective and very easy. We would highly recommend
it to anyone involved in fundraising."
Beams of Light Family Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
has received $1,386.00 from three CellFund shipments. Pastor
Steve Rhoads
writes, “One thing that made us the money is
this: persistence. There are many businesses, especially in the
service industry, that change phone service on a yearly basis
and they have no outlet for... the old phones. We
sent a letter to many of these businesses and even called some
of them. One place gave us 24 phones with a 30 second phone call.
The key is to address the person who is in charge...
Initially, we cast the vision
to our congregation and that proved worthwhile on the first group,
but then you must go outside. Another thing is if you can get
someone inside a company that can spread the word where they work…
We are very pleased.”
Cheryl Bauman of the Crisis Pregnancy Outreach
in Jenks, Oklahoma, has made 10 CellFund shipments. She writes, “Many
of the families who have adopted babies through Crisis Pregnancy
Outreach have really caught the vision for raising funds through
CellFund... Men and women all over the U.S. have caught the
vision
and are filling collection boxes! We are so excited about the
opportunity that CellFund has provided for raising funds for
our
ministry! Thank you so much!”
