Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services

CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS

BALLARD-DURAND FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES BECOMES EXCLUSIVE VETERANS PROVIDER, KICKS OFF CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS COLLECTION DRIVE

White Plains, New York -- Matthew J. Fiorillo, owner of Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services announced today that his firm has been selected to become an exclusive, certified Veterans & Family Memorial Care Provider for White Plains. VFMC Providers are family owned & operated. They are selected for upholding the highest level of ethical business standards and integrity while providing outstanding, affordable professional service. The staff at Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services are experts in assisting families with all aspects of the final arrangement process. They work closely with all Veterans Service Organizations and local Hospices.

The government does an excellent job providing veterans and their spouses with burial benefits if you use a Veterans National or State cemetery, however there are very limited benefits for the funeral or cremation arrangements. The owner of Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services, Matthew Fiorillo, has demonstrated a willingness and commitment to reach out to veterans and their families by extending benefits and savings beyond those provided by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs. This includes a preneed discount of 10% off services and merchandise to veterans and their spouses as well as a complimentary wood and glass flag case to the surviving spouse of a veteran who has pre-arranged via the VFMC program.

Another way VFMC Providers are reaching out is by their participation in the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. More than 150,000 troops are serving overseas and are away from their families. Hundreds of Veterans & Family Memorial Care Providers nationwide are calling on all Americans to support these brave men and women by donating your old, unused cell phones. Included in becoming an Exclusive Veterans & Family Memorial Care Provider, Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services in White Plains has become an official drop off site for Cell Phones for Soldiers to help troops stay connected with their families.

Local residents can support the collection drive by donating their phones at Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services located at 2 Maple Avenue between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

“We’re proud to show our support for our U.S. troops and to contribute to a worthy cause like Cell Phones for Soldiers” says Fiorillo.

Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, MA.with $21 of their own money. Since then the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 500,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.

The donated phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each phone, enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.

Approximately half of the phones ReCellular processes are reconditioned and resold to wholesale companies in over 40 countries around the world. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and recycled to reclaim materials.

You can help Ballard-Durand in their goal to help provide every U.S. soldier with a way to call home for free. For more information visit www.VeteransFuneralHomes.com or call Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services at (914) 949-0566.