Roadside Party to help March of Dimes, Cell Phones for Soldiers

Liberty Tax Service, 224 S. Randall Road in Elgin, is hosting a "Roadside Party" from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday to benefit the March of Dimes and Cell Phones for Soldiers.

Enjoy some winter fun with the Army National Guard and be a part of the "Liberty Dance for Babies" filming taking place during this outdoor party.

Liberty Tax is sponsoring a national children's dance contest with lots of video exposure on YouTube. The Liberty Dance for Babies contest entries can be uploaded at www.libertydanceforbabies.com with prizes for the winners.

This is a chance to drop off your old cell phone. Since Veterans Day 2004, Liberty Tax became a partner with the Cell Phone for Solders Organization. They have collected more than 120,000 phones amounting in 11 million minutes of phone time for soldiers to call home to their loved ones.

"Liberty's goal is to raise funds at these events and to create excitement and support for March of Dimes and Cell Phones for Soldiers," said Tamika Morales, owner of the Randall Road store.

"All local funds for the March of Dimes raised by Liberty Tax and other supporters are utilized right here in our community."

Last year, more than 1,000 communities hosted a March for Babies event and raised $116,000,000 to support the March of Dimes.

The company also will offer a March of Dimes Appreciation Week starting March 3. Donors who contribute to March of Dimes in Liberty offices will receive free tax preparation. The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy. For details, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language Web site, nacersano.org.

Cell Phones for Soldiers was the brainstorm of teenagers Brittany and Robbie Bergquist of Norwell, Mass. After hearing a news story about an American soldier in Iraq with a staggering phone bill, they started Cell Phones for Soldiers with their snack money.

They recruited sponsors and cell phone companies to help. The Web site www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com has details for those who would like to make cash donations, as well as stories about the soldiers who have received phone cards.