Recycle Cell Phones to Help Families Battling Cancer
Cells for Cells Partner, Mr. Goodcents Celebrates 20th Anniversary with a chance at free subs for a year or $20,000.
If you are hungry for a great sandwich from Mr. Goodcents, stop in between March 16-20 for $2.00 Half Turkey Subs!
Here’s the link to Mr. Goodcents location finder.
One of the great things about Cells for Cells is that by donating to our program, you’re doing two good things in one: helping families that are battling cancer, and reducing waste through recycling. It’s our commitment to reducing needless waste, (and CFC co-founder, Jason Clements’ love for rock-climbing) that’s led us to a partnership with Sterling Rope.
A high-tech nylon rope manufacturer, Sterling Rope recently launched its Rope Recycling Redemption Initiative, making it the only company in the United States which recycles nylon rope. Because we support Sterling Rope’s commitment to the environment, we decided to ask Outdoor Product Manager John Branagan some questions to increase awareness of this fantastic program.
The Sterling Redemption Initiative was actually John Branagan’s brain child. We spoke with John to ask him some questions about his program, his passions, and why programs like Cells for Cells and the Sterling Initiative are so important.
Jason: Sterling is leading the way in climbing rope recycling, how did it all start?
John: I was inspired by my wife (who wanted me to get rid of my ‘retired’ ropes that were kicking around our house) and by an image of ropes in a dumpster at Yosemite. Such a waste…
Jason: Is Sterling Rope really the only company in the US that is recycling rope?
John: YES. Millet does it in Europe, but not here in the US.
Jason: Can you recycle any kinds of rope?
John: Yes, any nylon (dynamic) rope can be recycled.
Jason: What happens to a recycled rope?
John: It is sent to a recycler that specializes in fibers. It is reprocessed and pelletized to be used in other manufacturing processes.
Jason: Where do I buy/support the companies that use recycled ropes to create new products?
John: Go to GreenGuru.com for more information
Jason: Do you see the other climbing industries (shoes, hardware, etc.) following your lead and creating recycling programs?
John: YES – there is a company that is taking back bouldering crash pads. I hope more try to do it.
Jason: How does Sterling’s effort really have an impact on me?
John: We all have choices, and I hope that our efforts impact you the climber to choose a brand that is at least trying to make a difference in our world.
Jason: How many miles of rope would you guess you’ve have recycled?
John: Well it is thousands and thousands of pounds so far, and the average rope a climber uses is just under 10 lbs.
Jason: What is Sterling’s ultimate recycling goal?
John: Our goal is simple: to provide an outlet for people to easily recycle their retired ropes with the least amount of impact on the environment.
Jason: So how can I recycle my rope?
John: 1) Look for Sterling Rope Redemption centers at climbing comps, slide shows, festivals, crag cleanups and indoor gyms around the country.
2) Send the retired rope right back to us at:
Sterling Rope Company, Inc.
C/O: Rope Recycling Program
26 Morin Street
Biddeford, ME 04005-4413
Jason: How do I promote rope recycling at my gym?
John: Ask the gym owner or manager what they do with their old ropes and tell them about the Sterling Rope program (www.sterlingrope.com/recycle.asp)
Jason: Okay, so what’s the deal with recycling cell phones? Why is a rope company promoting cell phone recycling?
John: Everything that can be recycled should be recycled. I feel it is our responsibility to spread the word that old ropes or old phones are NOT trash— they are resources that need to be recycled!
Jason: How did you get hooked up with Cells for Cells?
John: Over e-mail. (Jason’s note – I reached out to Sterling rope after seeing their ad in Urban Climber about their rope recycling program.)
Jason: Hey man, I know there are tons of cell phone recycling programs – why is Sterling promoting Cells for Cells?
John: Cells for Cells has put more thought and research into the idea than most.
Jason: Let’s get away from business – how long have you been climbing?
John: Since 1989, but I’m still a recreational hacker…
Jason: What are your favorite shoes?
John: My new favorites are Evolv.
Jason: Where is you all-time favorite place to climb?
John: Too many great choices! The places closest to home are always the best (North Conway, NH for me) but the New River Gorge in West Virginia is amazing!
Jason: Did you work at Sterling first and then become a climber or vice versa?
John: I was a climber first.
Jason: What are your favorite climbing websites?
John: NE Climbs (www.neclimbs.com). It is small and local.
Jason: What are your favorite climbing magazines?
John: Alpinist, Climbing, Urban Climber, Rock & Ice, and DeadPointMag
Jason: What cell phone do you currently use?
John: Moto Razor
Jason: Any new ropes coming out?
John: Our NEW Ion 9.5 is just hitting stores and has been getting great reviews.
Jason: When you are climbing outdoors, do you see signs that the climbing community has good stewardship?
John: Yes. I think the Access Fund, HERA foundation, and Climb for a Cure are all great examples.
Jason: What can climbers do to be better at recycling?
John: Think of everything they buy, from bottled water to rock shoes: we need to ask ourselves, ‘when this thing has stopped being usable, what am I going to do with it?’
Jason: What can anyone do to be better at recycling?
John: Add to preexisting programs like the Access Fund or HERA Foundation. Increase your efforts. If your local recycling center doesn’t take an item like batteries or # 5 plastics, don’t give up! The neighboring town might. If you look online you can find a way to recycle lots of things.
Jason: Last words?
John: There is no Silver Bullet solution to better living. There is however “Silver Buckshot” – if we all do a small part to contribute to solving a problem like excess waste we can have a serious impact.
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If you have nylon ropes you wish to recycle, visit Sterling Rope Redemption centers at climbing competitions or festivals and indoor gyms across the country. You can also send your retired rope to the following address:
Sterling Rope Company, Inc
C/O: Rope Recycling Program
26 Morin Street
Biddeford, ME 04005-4413
For more information on the Sterling Rope Redemption Initiative, please visit their website at http://www.sterlingrope.com/recycle.asp
Shawnee, KS (CellsforCells.com) September 17, 2008– Ferrellgas, one of the nation’s largest propane distributors, donated nearly 1000 cell phones to Cells for Cells, the Shawnee, Kansas-based cell phone recycling program that benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Stirring enthusiasm for the project with a company-wide competition, Ferrellgas was able to inspire its employees and local communities to get involved in the fight against cancer.
Jim Saladin, Manager of Corporate Communications for Ferrellgas, organized the company-wide East-versus-West competition. Vice President of the Ferrellgas’ East Division Micah Redman and West Division Vice President Randy Schott each enlisted the participation of Ferrellgas employees in their respective areas, who in turn involved their customers and communities. In one notable instance, the Iowa City Cubs baseball team even held a special “free ticket night” for those who brought a cell phone to drop off at the game.
“Ferrellgas united the community,” Jason Clements, co-founder of Cells for Cells says. “Many families that battle leukemia, lymphoma, myleloma are unable to pay all their medical bills, and the efforts like Ferrellgas’ can help to significantly ease that burden.”
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society provides support, resources, and financial relief to families in need through their Patient Financial Aid Programs. The money that Cells for Cells raises by recycling cell phones is given to those Financial Aid Programs. It is through the generosity of corporate partners like Ferrellgas that community organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society owe their success.
Founded in 1939, Ferrellgas is the is one of the largest propane retailers in the United States, including the largest provider of propane by branded tank exchange.
Established in 2007, Cells for Cells raises money through cell phone recycling to provide financial relief to families battling cancer through their partnership with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
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For interviews or information concerning the work Cells for Cells is doing to better the lives of families battling cancers, please contact Jason Clements at jclements (at) cellsforcells (dot) com.
We truly are grateful to all of our partners who have donated cell phones! Thank you all!
I recently had the pleasure to meet with Gordon Ho of Innovative Solutions Consulting Group – ISCG. I’ve known of Gordon in the wireless space in Kansas City for about 8 years; but I never sat down with him. I know that he is an innovator (see: his company name) and a forward-thinking entrepreneur. So I finally called him to discuss business, the wireless industry and a strategic relationship between ISCG and Cells for Cells.
ICSG is a Nextel Sprint partner that offers new service, upgrades, and repair services. The BIG DIFFERENTIATOR with ISCG is their knowledge of SERVING THE CUSTOMER. In Kansas City, they have one of the few mobile/on-site services, where they come out to your office to service your cell phones. I would call that innovative!
Gordon and I spoke further about about working together to get more exposure for Cells for Cells and ICSG.
Here’s the quick-hit Q & A from Gordon Ho of ISCG:
Jason: Why is ISCG part of Cells for Cells?
Gordon: It’s a great cause for one. Secondly it’s important to our environment to recycle old devices and parts safely.
Jason: Was it an easy decision or Why was it an easy decision to participate?
Gordon: Very easy! Both ISCG and Cells for Cells share the same goals. That’s what makes participating an easy decision.
Jason: Do you have a one sentence statement of why customers/businesses should do business with ISCG?
Gordon: ISCG-How business get’s done! It’s pretty simple, but that how our clients rely on us. We handle their wireless and we simply get business done.
Jason: Do you have any quick recycling tips/cell phone tips for customers?
Gordon: Batteries have born on dates on the battery. If nearing the expiration date we can swap out that battery for a fresh battery with a newer date and we can recycle the old battery.
Jason: Any upcoming events that we can promote for you?
Gordon: We are sponsoring a tent at Country in the Woods on Sunday, June 22 from 4pm to 10 pm. Lonestar headlines the event at Corporate Woods in Overland Park, Kansas.
Innovative does have a wireless “how-to” blog; but it looks like the last update was in 2007. I wish they would update that because it has some really great tips. I am going to copy one of their tips right here because it is so useful for many Cells for Cells partners.
From Innovative Solutions Blog “How To Erase all contact information on a Blackberry.”
>Options>Security>General Settings>Wipe Handheld Sets the phone back to factory defaults but some information may still remain. To completely wipe the handheld, here are a couple tips.
1) Assign a password to the device and then input the password wrong 10 times !
* To assign a password to a BB device: Go to home screen and select “Options” (this is an icon that looks like a wrench). Select “Security” from the Options list. Go to the line item that says Password. Use the trackwheel to enable the password. When you save the settings, the device will ask you to enter a new password. Assign a alphanumeric password to the device.
* Input the password wrong 10 times: Power cycle the device (power if off and then back on). The device will ask you for your password. Input a wrong password 10 times. The device will give you a few warning messages. After the 10th attempt, the device will erase all user data and do a power cycle.
1) Erase all data using the “desktop manager” software
* Launch the Blackberry “desktop manager” software utility on your PC and make sure that it is connected to the BB device in the cradle.
* Launch “Backup and Restore” utility from the desktop manager menu.
* Click on the button that says “Advanced..”.
* The application will read all the data from the device, organize them, and then display on the screen (on the right column). Select all the data (email, calendar, phone logs, browser bookmarks, etc.) that you want to erase. You can select multiple entries by holding on to the CTRL button while you select them. Click on the button labeled “Clear” to erase all the data from the device.
Thank you, Gordon for your time and partnership.
If you are interested in learning more about Innovative Solutions and their Innovative customer service, you can contact Gordon directly at gho (at) isconline (dot) com or call him directly at (913) – 208 – 1025.
(Photo: Ferrellgas)
Three of Cells for Cells’ biggest partners were honored as Kansas City’s best employers in the March issue of Ingram’s Magazine.
But did you you know that these companies are leaders in RECYCLING? They recycled almost 1500 cell phones and hundreds of pounds of cell phone chargers and accessories in 2007.
Cells for Cells extends a gigantic congratulations to Ferrellgas, Burns & McDonnell, and Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP. A very special THANK YOU to Ferrellgas for mentioning Cells for Cells in their bio.
Ingram’s states, “In these workplaces, a feeling of happiness reflects the company culture. Employees are upbeat, turnover rates are minimal, and parking lots are empty soon after 5 by the boss’s design, all confirming that Kansas City is a desirable place to work and live.”
Certainly, part of that employee contentment comes from knowing they have raised thousands of dollars to help families that are battling cancer — through the simple act of recycling cell phones. Money raised goes directly to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s patient aid fund, which helps with medical bills, gas for the car, and expenses like that.
Once again, thank you and congratulations to Ferrellgas, Burns & McDonnell, and Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP. You are outstanding companies and you help fulfill the mission of Cells for Cells: Providing financial relief to families that are battling cancer.
Please learn more about Ferrellgas Propane here.
Please learn more about Burns & McDonnell here.
Please learn more about Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP here.