Newswise — WASHINGTON— Dozens of George Washington University students will be collecting used cell phones in 15 of Metro’s busiest stations during the morning rush hours on Wednesday, April 25.
The one day collection drive is all for a good cause. The used cell phones and other portable electronic devices, such as tablets and iPods will be recycled, and the proceeds will go to fund maternal and child mobile technology health projects in Mali, Malawi and Nepal.
The collection day will be the conclusion of the university’s GW+Phones=Hope campaign. GW announced the commitment on Oct. 6 as part of being the host of the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Meeting that took place on its campus in March. GW has been working with the organization Hope Phones to recycle electronics. With GW’s help, Hope Phones has collected more than 10,000 electronic devices since the GW+Phones=Hope campaign began.
"This event is the culmination of a six-month campaign that will literally save lives in the developing world," said GW President Steven Knapp. "I am grateful to everyone within and beyond our university community who has stepped up to this important challenge."
In addition to collecting used cell phones, GW volunteers will also be distributing information about Text4baby, the country’s largest mobile health information service. It supports moms by providing accurate, text-length health information and resources in a format that is personal and timely. Pregnant women and new moms who text “BABY” or (“BEBE” for Spanish) to 511411 receive weekly text messages (timed to their due date or their baby’s birth date) throughout pregnancy and up until baby’s first birthday.
GW’s School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS) has partnered with National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition to support enrollment in Text4baby. GW students have been working to promote and enroll Washington, D.C., families in the greatest need in the Text4baby service. Just last month during the school’s Day of Service, SPHHS students visited businesses in three District wards with the highest infant mortality rates in an effort to sign women up for the program.
Donated phones and other devices do not have to be in working condition, and they will all go through a process to remove any personal information stored on the device. Accessories, such as chargers do not need to be donated with the device.
"We're pleased to host George Washington University's efforts to help improve women's and children's health around the world and in our own backyard." said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard Sarles.
Riders can drop off their portable electronic devices in special collection boxes staffed by volunteers wearing blue “GW+Phones=Hope” T-shirts from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the following stations in D.C, Maryland and Virginia:
Chinatown-Gallery Place
Metro Center
Union Station
Farragut North
Farragut West
Dupont Circle
Capitol South
L’Enfant Plaza
Foggy Bottom-GWU
New Carrollton
McPherson Square
Federal Triangle
Rosslyn
Pentagon City
Franconia-Springfield
For more information about the GW+Hope=Phones campaign, please visit http://www.gwu.edu/donate-phones/index.html
About George Washington University
In the heart of the nation’s capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 countries.
About Hope Phones The Hope Phones campaign began in 2009 as an innovative way to fund the global efforts of Medic Mobile, the parent organization that advances healthcare in 15 countries with mobile technology. Half a million cell phones are discarded in the United States every day and pollute the environment with tons of plastic and persistent toxins. Cell phone recycling through Hope Phones reduces hazardous waste in our communities responsibly, while providing a real public health benefit abroad. If Hope Phones can recycle just 1% of disposed phones each year, we can outfit 1 million health workers, improving the lives of 50 million people. For more visit www.hopephones.org.
About Text4baby
Text4baby is made possible through a broad, public-private partnership that includes government, corporations, academic institutions, professional associations, non-profit organizations, and more. Founding partners include National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, Voxiva, CTIA – The Wireless Foundation, and Grey Healthcare Group (a WPP company) and Text4baby’s Founding Sponsor, Johnson & Johnson. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have been involved in the development of Text4baby since its inception. Free messaging services are generously provided by participating mobile operators, including Alltel, Assurance Wireless, AT&T, Bluegrass Cellular, Boost Mobile, Cellular South, Cellcom, Centennial Wireless, Cincinnati Bell, Cricket, MetroPCS, n-Telos, Nex-Tech Wireless, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, and Virgin Mobile USA. For more information, visit www.text4baby.org.
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