Celebrity-signed phones to benefit NCADV and 9-11 fund

Chances are, most of us will never get a personal phone call from our favorite celebrity. However, Yahoo Everywhere (http://everywhere.yahoo.com) and the Wireless Foundation (www.wirelessfoundation.org) hope to give star-struck fans the next best thing.

Starting Oct. 22, as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Yahoo Everywhere, the Wireless Foundation, Motorola (www.motorola.com) and Sprint PCS (www.sprintpcs.com) will unveil the Celebrity Signature Wireless Phone Auction, a consumer education and domestic violence awareness campaign created to protect victims from abuse and raise funds and awareness for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV; www.ncdav.org). The campaign will also benefit United Way’s Sept. 11 Fund (www.unitedway.org).

Half of all proceeds raised from the charity auction will benefit NCADV, while the remaining 50% will be donated to the Sept. 11 Fund, which helps victims and their families, as well as communities affected by that day’s events. The auction runs through Oct. 30, 2001.

Through Yahoo! Auctions (auctions.yahoo.com), consumers will be able to bid for nine days on autographed wireless phones created by celebrity supporters. Each package includes a celebrity-signed and decorated Motorola wireless phone faceplate, along with a Motorola Talkabout 8167 phone and one year of Sprint PCS wireless service. Some of the many celebrities participating are Minnie Driver, Reba McEntire, Dylan McDermott, Charlize Theron, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Star Jones, Enrique Inglesias, Cindy Crawford, Steve Martin, Willard Scott, Claudia Schiffer, Sela Ward and Susan Sarandon.

As part of the campaign, consumers are encouraged to donate their no longer used wireless phones via the CALL to PROTECT program. To find collection bin locations, go to www.donateaphone.com and click on the store locator. People can also mail their no longer used wireless phones by following the “Where to Donate” instructions also found on the Web site.

CALL to PROTECT provides domestic violence victims and organizations with wireless phones, while also generating resources to support the NCADV and other organizations working to combat abuse. Phone donors can download a tax receipt at www.donateaphone.com.