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KYOCERA and San Diegans Donate Almost 14,000 Minutes of Free Calling Minutes to Troops Just in Time for Independence Day

Donations Result of Kyoceras eWaste Recycling Program for Earth Day in San Diego, Benefitting Cell Phones for Soldiers

SAN DIEGO--Kyocera Communications, Inc., a San Diego-based provider of Kyocera-branded wireless phones in the Americas, today announced that it has donated almost 14,000 minutes of free calling minutes for the troops, just in time for Independence Day. In the weeks before and after Earth Day 2012 (April 22), Kyocera conducted an eWaste education and recycling campaign in San Diego County. Hundreds of devices were collected for recycling at locations around San Diego, with donations benefitting Cell Phones for Soldiers. The non-profit works with Michigan-based ReCellular to recycle donated cell phones, generating funds used to purchase prepaid calling cards for members of the U.S. military serving away from home.

“Kyocera was founded 53 years ago with a philosophy of doing what’s right for society and the environment. In recycling phones to benefit Cell Phones for Soldiers, we’ve done both”

“Kyocera was founded 53 years ago with a philosophy of doing what’s right for society and the environment. In recycling phones to benefit Cell Phones for Soldiers, we’ve done both,” said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of global sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications, Inc. “Only about 20 percent of cell phones are recycled properly, so this was an opportunity to raise awareness of the issue while honoring the brave troops serving this country. It’s a program we’d like to continue and expand in the years to come.”

With ongoing deployments to combat areas and elsewhere, as many as 369,000 troops are serving in the U.S. military overseas. By donating used cellular phones to Cell Phones for Soldiers, San Diegans were able to provide troops with that precious connection to loved ones back home.

Siblings Robbie and Brittany Bergquist founded Cell Phones for Soldiers at the ages of 12 and 13, respectively. For every donated phone valued at just $5, Cell Phones for Soldiers is able to provide two and a half hours of free talk time to U.S. troops. The charity has provided more than 150 million minutes of free talk time to service men and women stationed around the world. On average, Cell Phones for Soldiers distributes approximately 12,000 calling cards each week to bases around the world, care package programs, deployment ceremonies and VA hospitals.

“We are extremely grateful to have Kyocera join our mission of supporting troops with free communication tools,” said co-founder Brittany Bergquist. “As we continue to combat the communication gap between military members and their families, it’s also great to know we’re helping keep harmful materials out of our landfills here at home.”

Kyocera recently received the Director’s Recycling Award for environmental programs by the City of San Diego's Environmental Services Department (ESD). It is the twelfth consecutive year the City has awarded the company for its recycling efforts. Kyocera, which operates multiple divisions in the greater San Diego region, now has earned 19 such awards from the City – more than any other business in San Diego, according to the ESD. Kyocera also was recently honored by the state of California with the Waste Reduction (WRAP) Award, recognizing its recycling and environmentally-friendly business practices.

ABOUT CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS INC.

Cell Phones for Soldiers Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active duty military members and veterans. Based in Norwell, Mass., Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old. The organization has provided more than 150 million minutes of free talk time to deployed military members. Beginning in 2012, “Helping Heroes Home” will provide emergency funds for returning veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, www.helpingheroeshome.org or http://www.facebook.com/JoinCellPhonesforSoldiers.

About Kyocera Communications Inc.

Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) is the headquarters for Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless products and accessories in the Americas. The company's devices are driving the convergence of telecommunications, broadband and multimedia. KCI was formed in April 2009 through the combination of Kyocera Wireless Corp. and Kyocera Sanyo Telecommunications Inc., two wholly owned subsidiaries of Kyocera International Inc. The former was created when Kyocera purchased QUALCOMM Incorporated's consumer wireless phone business in 2000, while the latter was formed when Kyocera purchased the wireless phone business of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. in 2008. Based in San Diego, KCI leverages Japan's history of creating advanced consumer technologies around humanism and respect for the environment and blending them with a Western entrepreneurialism and style, resulting in a unique design language and a natural, user-friendly interface. For more information, please visit http://www.kyocera-wireless.com or follow the company on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/kyoceramobilephones.

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as "advanced ceramics"). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, printers, copiers, solar power generating systems, electronic components, semiconductor packages, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2012, the company's net sales totaled 1.19 trillion yen (approx. USD14.5 billion). The company is ranked #426 on Forbes magazine's 2012 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.

Contacts

Kyocera Communications, Inc.
John Chier, 858-882-3543
john.chier@kyocera.com
or
Aspire Communications, for CPFS
Erin McCloskey, 336-207-5222
erin@aspirecommunications.org

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