October 24, 2011 (Marathon, WI) – The DC Everest School Forest received a green gift from Cellcom in the amount of $5000 at a presentation at the Dells of Eau Claire today.

The DC Everest School Forest is used to foster and expand environmental education in the district.

“Cellcom funding will make it possible for us to partner students with scientists in studying the changes in Wisconsin's ecosystems over time,” said Cindy Damrow, school forest director. “Rather than a one-day experience at the school forest, these multiple experiences, made possible through Cellcom, will help students gain a greater understanding of climate change through data collection and research. This grant will help us to create student leaders who can spur environmental action at their own middle school.”

A total of 30 sixth-grade students will participate in this environmental enrichment program. These students will share what they learned with other middle school students and teachers. Through action projects all of the students will then participate in a school-wide and community effort to curb climate change.

A total of $30,950 was given out to 17 green organizations in Cellcom’s service area.

Since 2004 Cellcom has offered a cell phone recycling program where customers can bring in their old or unwanted phones to be reused and recycled. Cellcom sends the phones to recyclers who in return send money to Cellcom for the materials that were saved from the phones. Cellcom has always donated this money back to local non-profits.

This is the second year that Cellcom is donating their recycling funds to green non-profit initiatives in an effort to complete the green cycle that starts with consumers being environmentally-conscious and donating their devices.

“We are constantly taking steps to become more eco-friendly as a company,” said Brighid Riordan, director of public affairs. “By dedicating our recycling money to green initiatives, Cellcom continues our longstanding commitment to the community and together we can work toward a greener tomorrow.”

Other green gifts went to non-profits throughout Cellcom’s service area and included Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary (Green Bay), Preble Agriscience Natural Resources Program (Green Bay), Greater Green Bay YMCA Camp U-Nah-Li-Ya (Suring), Trees for Tomorrow (Eagle River), Friends of Mosquito Hill (New London),  Heckrodt Wetland Reserve (Menasha), Northwoods Elementary School (Rhinelander), CAP Services (Stevens Point), Central Rivers Farmshed (Stevens Point), Woodland Dunes Nature Center (Two Rivers), Whitefish Dunes State Park (Sturgeon Bay), The Ridges Sanctuary (Bailey’s Harbor), Oconto River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Camp Tekawitha (Shawano), Crivitz High School Science Club, DC Everest School Forest (Schofield), and Marathon High School Ecology Club.

Cellcom’s recycling program has generated over $105,000 for local charities over the past seven years.