That is the basic principle on which Massachusetts teenagers Brittany and Robbie Bergquist founded Cell Phones for Soldiers (CPFS). The charity they created collects and recycles wireless phones, then uses the proceeds to buy prepaid phone cards to send to U.S. troops serving overseas. In just three years, the Bergquists have raised more than $1 million and have sent more than 400,000 phone cards to the troops.

Since 2007, AT&T has aided in the effort. All of our retail stores across the nation serve as CPFS recycling drop-off locations. We've also contributed 60,000 prepaid phone cards — valued at more than $500,000. And we're awarding four-year college scholarships, worth up to $100,000 each, to Brittany and Robbie.

Why would a global company like AT&T get involved with a charity run by a couple of teenagers? It's simple. When Brittany e-mailed us to ask for our help, we recognized that we shared a common belief in the importance of keeping military families connected.