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Nextel Raised Nearly $600,000 in 2004 to Benefit Military Families via the American Red CrossRESTON, Va. --(Business Wire)-- Jan. 31, 2005 -- Nextel Urges People to Donate Their Old Cell Phones to Help Military Families Stay Connected - and to Preserve the Environment Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NXTL) collected nearly 80,000 wireless phones and raised nearly $600,000 in 2004 to benefit the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) program through the DONATE A PHONE(R) program, as well as other fundraising efforts. With more than $900,000 raised since the campaign's inception in May 2003, Nextel, along with assistance from Nextel Partners Inc. (NASDAQ: NXTP) and the American Red Cross, anticipates reaching the $1 million mark by the program's two-year anniversary this May. AFES At Work The American Red Cross AFES program provides emergency communication services, assistance and comfort to U.S. military members and their families. One beneficiary of the campaign is Army Spc. Richard Dollarhide, who was deployed in Iraq this past November. While in Fallujah, Dollarhide's wife, April, was in an Oklahoma hospital waiting to give birth to their first child, Krysta. When Dollarhide received an American Red Cross emergency communication explaining that his wife was in labor, he immediately looked for a phone to call her. When Dollarhide's call went through, the timing could not have been better as April had just given birth. Overjoyed to hear from her husband, April held the phone to the newborn so that her father could hear his baby's first cries of life - a comforting sound to the 26-year-old infantryman located so far from home. "It has been stressful and sad at times because Krysta's growing so fast, and he's not here to see her," said April Dollarhide. "But he'll be home soon so we're excited and ready." Dollarhide made his timely phone call with the help of the American Red Cross AFES program. While serving 1.4 million active duty men and women and their immediate family members, the American Red Cross also reaches out to the 1.2 million members of the National Guard, Reserves and their immediate family members who reside in nearly every community in America. Looking For a Few Old Phones The DONATE A PHONE(R) program is an easy way to convert old wireless phones lying idle in your home and office into funding for an important service for our military service members and their families. It's estimated that there are 60 million used wireless phones in the United States. It's easy to help other military personnel and their families, like the Dollarhides. Simply donate your used wireless phones and accessories from any manufacturer at any of more than 780 Nextel Retail Stores (see www.nextel.com for locations), or if you have a Nextel phone, through www.nextelbuyback.com. As a sponsor of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series(TM), Nextel is also collecting phones at all 2005 NASCAR Nextel Cup events. "Nextel is proud to partner with an organization that helps keep military families in touch, even when they are separated by thousands of miles," said Tim Donahue, president and chief executive officer of Nextel. "The program is a win-win for military families and for the environment since the donated phones are refurbished or recycled." About Nextel Nextel Communications, a FORTUNE 200 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Today 95 percent of FORTUNE 500(R) companies are Nextel customers. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 297 of the top 300 U.S. markets where approximately 260 million people live or work. About Nextel Partners Nextel Partners, Inc., (NASDAQ: NXTP), based in Kirkland, Wash., has the exclusive rights to offer the same fully integrated, digital wireless communications services offered by Nextel Communications (Nextel) in mid-sized and rural markets in 31 states where approximately 54 million people reside. Nextel Partners and Nextel together offer the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country serving 297 of the top 300 U.S. markets. To learn more about Nextel Partners, visit www.nextelpartners.com. About the American Red Cross Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 field units dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1 million volunteers and 36,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and keeps U.S. military families connected worldwide. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross. More information about the American Red Cross can be found at www.redcross.org. About The CTIA Wireless Foundation The Wireless Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established by CTIA - The Wireless Association(TM) in 1993. The Foundation oversees a number of programs, such as DONATE A PHONE(R), designed to put wireless technology to work addressing the challenges of society. For more information, please visit www.wirelessfoundation.org. |
