What is Go Green for Schools?

Go Green for Schools is a new and innovative cell phone recycling initiative brought to you by Qwest. By recycling your cell phone with Qwest, you keep unused cell phones out of landfills and reduce green house gas emissions. This recycling program also helps raise money for public school districts and preK-12 educational initiatives.

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What happens with my phone? Where does it go?

Go Green for School collects used cell phones and accessories, regardless of service provider, make, model or technology. Collected cell phones are refurbished or recycled. The refurbished phones are sold by our recycling partner, and proceeds are distributed to designated public school districts and educational initiatives. Older, unsalvageable phones are disposed of in an environmentally sound way.

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How do you determine how the funds are distributed?

Collected funds are distributed in connection to how the phones are collected. Phones collected using bags obtained at a Qwest retail store will be donated to the public school district in that area. Phones collected using bags obtained at a local event may be tagged to benefit a specific educational initiative tied to that event. To ensure that proceeds collected on behalf of your donated phone are assigned to the public school district of your choice you may download a pre-paid mailing label from our Web site at www.qwest.com/gogreenforschools.

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Why should I choose to donate my phone to Go Green for Schools?

A recent survey revealed that only 2.3% of Americans recycle their cell phones but that 90% of Americans would recycle their cell phones if there was an easy way to do it. Go Green for Schools is an easy way for consumers to recycle their cell phones at no cost to them. In addition to keeping the environment clean, all money raised through this recycling program will be used to support preK-12 educational initiatives. When customers donate their cell phones to Go Green for Schools they can be confident that their phones will be recycled or refurbished properly, and proceeds will be used to generate funds for education.

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Can I donate my phone's accessories?

Accessories, such as a phone charger, headset and spare batteries, are welcomed.

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What if I don't have the charger and other accessories for my phone?

You can still donate your cell phone, and it will help raise funds for Go Green for Schools.

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Which school districts are eligible to receive funds?

Every public school district in the Qwest 14-state region is eligible. Private and parochial schools are not eligible. You can select your preferred school district to receive proceeds from your donated cell phone when downloading the pre-paid label from our Web site at www.qwest.com/gogreenforschools.

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What if I would prefer to support an educational initiative rather than a school district?

When downloading a pre-paid label from www.qwest.com/gogreenforschools you can choose to support a public school district within Qwest’s 14-state region, Boys & Girls Clubs technology initiatives or Qwest Pioneer educational projects.

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Who are the Qwest Pioneers?

The Qwest Pioneers are retired and current employees of Qwest who provide more than 1 million hours of community service each year to the communities in which they work and live. Pioneers support numerous education initiatives, including Power Up to Read (a multimedia program for 4th and 5th grade students that builds literacy skills) and Project Connect (a series of 7 web-based learning applications that combine a fun, gaming experience with educational content related to our everyday experiences with telecommunications technology).

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How will the donation be used?

School districts and educational initiatives receiving funds from Go Green for Schools will be encouraged to use the donations to promote technology in their classrooms.

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What if my phone is broken?

You can still donate your wireless phone even if it is broken. If it is not salvageable, the parts will be recycled and used to generate funds for area public school districts and preK-12 educational initiatives.

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How do I donate my old phone?

We've made the process as easy as possible. Just stop by any Qwest Solution Center® store, pick up a collection bag, place the cell phone in the envelope, seal the envelope and place it in the mailbox. You can also download a pre-paid label at www.qwest.com/gogreenforschools.

To find a store near you, visit the Store Locator.

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What happens to the personal information on the wireless phones?

It is your responsibility to erase any personal data on the phone before donating it to Go Green for Schools. You may download instructions to clear personal information using the Free Cell Phone Data Eraser. In addition, our recycling vendor scrubs the phone of all personal data prior to distributing it for re-use.

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Are there other ways in which Qwest supports education?

The Qwest Foundation awards grants that generate high impact and measurable results through community-based programs in the area of preK-12 education. Qwest for Education focuses on enriching the lives of children by supporting solid preK-12 educational programs. Educating children is the cornerstone for building strong and enlightened communities.

Qwest supports numerous education programs including:

One Percent Back to Schools
As a Qwest customer, you have an opportunity to help us direct funds to education. If you sign up for Paperless Billing and AutoPay Electronic Funds Transfer, Qwest will direct an amount equal to one percent of your monthly bill, before taxes, to the school district of your choice. For more information and to sign up,
click here.

Teacher and Technology Grants
The Qwest Foundation granted $900,000 to states in the Qwest service territory. In each state, the company selected a nonprofit organization to run the mini-grant program and be the recipient of the funds. Partner agencies include Departments of Education, state education groups, or nonprofits with a strong profile in education and technology. Qwest works with each educational organization to determine the parameters of a grant program offered to teachers across the state. The grant may reward programs that use technology or the Internet in innovative ways to advance student achievement.

Power Up to Read
Power Up to Read is an initiative supported by the Qwest Pioneers that is an engaging, multicultural and multimedia program for 4th and 5th grade students that builds literacy skills and engages students in reading for understanding folktales and informational text.

Project Connect
Project Connect is a series of seven Web-based learning applications that combine a fun, gaming experience with educational content related to our everyday experiences with telecommunications technology. The result? A challenging and engaging educational experience.

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Will I receive a tax receipt for this donation?

No. Cell phones and related accessories contributed to Go Green for Schools are not tax deductible.

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I would like to hold a Go Green for Schools phone drive. How can I get involved?

If you would like to request Go Green for Schools materials for an upcoming phone drive, please contact gogreenforschools@qwest.com and a representative from Qwest will follow up with you.

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