This is really awesome!

I nominate Christina Hong. She's a friend of mine that recently lost her BB to a puddle of mud. Yes, she can get a new one but it would costs hundreds of dollars. Her plan was recently renewed by her parents, which she did not know of. Also, she's a college student... so she definitely does not have the means to purchase one herself. I commented on the BlackBerry 9700 Contest, hoping to win one for her but did no. Hopefully, I'll win this one so I can give it to her. Thanks.

In addition... she loves her broken BB so much, that she continues to use it. It turns on and off by itself and sometimes the buttons don't work. She has the choice of a replacement phone but she can't let go of her curve. She's been faithful to her curve, even when the curve has been non-functional. I think she deserves it.

What an awesome thing to do!

I nominate Karen Pastore. She is someone who is really close to me and dear to my heart. She has worked hard all her life in school and in work but due to this economic crisis she is having a very hard time finding stable work. She has a degrees in psychology and nursing. She has been having a hard time making money but she has been volunteering her time to help and care for others in need. She is doing a nurses job without making a nurses salary. She is currently on AT&T and using an old beat up Curve. She can certainly use a new phone and a Bold would be a great gift to her. She uses her BlackBerry for all her organization and appointment making and she would really benefit from a phone like that. Hopefully soon she will be able to find a better job than she has now and she could get the pay she deserves for the work that she does. But at the moment she does not have the money to purchase a new phone that she truly needs. She is only working part time because that is the only work she can find. the rest of the time she spends with others in need. Thank you for the consideration.

My friend Rich Shumacher. He is an aspiring college professor who shares a plan with a good friend. He recently gave up his upgrade so that she could get a Bold. He has wanted one since it came out but it seems everytime he gets close different barriers stop him from getting it (mainly $$$). He is a great guy but is always giving to others before himself. I would love for him to get something like the Bold to show it does come back around.
This is a really great contest, thanks for the chance to share.

My best friend (who's name I won't put here since he reads CrackBerry on occasion) is a New York City firefighter and recently smashed his blackberry while at a fire in Manhattan. He has a lot of expenses for his family around this time and I would love to surprise him with a Bold.

He like all of us is a blackberry addict and I am sure he would appreciate the surprise.

Thanks for the consideration.

I am nominating my friend Kris. He is the volunteer EMS lieutenant for the local fire department with me. He has this dinky old cell phone that barely works (you know, he cant even use T9 on his phone). Because of his title within the fire department, he needs to be constantly accessible in case something goes wrong, either with a member, equipment, our ambulance, etc. He has to organize events and continuing education for the members, and receives hundreds of emails a day, but cannot access them on his phone, he would have to use the computer at the firehouse, which is still running Windows 98. All of the other officers have blackberries, but because we ONLY do EMS (who would have thought this was not important??) the Chiefs refuse to pay for his blackberry.

So, bottom line, he is very deserving, and is going a great job helping his community, and could use a bit more assistance with his job. He is one of our best volunteers, making about 80% of rescue calls in the community.

Hello Crackberry Nation I'm writing to tell you my story. This would be a perfect gift for my dad. he is 53 and only likes to use blackberrys. We started about 3 yrs ago switching from nextel to AT&T and never looked back. His latest device was a BOLD and he absolutely loved it. He went into the hospital to have what appeared to be a sist from his back and found out it was an infection caused by his diabetes. after being released he found out he needed to be on an IV fo 6 weeks which cost him alot of money. Long story short he had to sell his bold for money for the IV. i WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO WIN. Just so he can have his bold back instead of using his old 8300 with a broken camera that he has to do a battery pull every 5 hrs.

Thanks for reading my story.
Dan

I would give it to a girlfriend of mine. She is kind of a noob when it comes to phones, blackberry's etc. She purchased a LG smartphone a while ago after getting advice in the telecomshop. I (someone who can give a decent advice....well at least somwhat better then those dudes in some telecomshops) explained her that she has to step into the world of BlackBerry's. After talking for hours and showing here what my Bold can and can't do she was convinced and wants too check for a BlackBerry and especially a Bold 9000 (the same as me). Because the prices of the BlackBerry 9000 aren't that low right now I agreed to keep an eye on the prices of BlackBerry's (Bold 900 and others, new and used) until I find one she can pay.
I already wanted to check if I could a cheap/affordable recent model Blackberry something for Christmas for her so I she can be finally introduced into the world of BlackBerry.

I would love it to get this one, if I would get it at least 3 people are happy...she, me and hopefully NaviWilliams because he can be sure his Bold will be loved and used for a long time again :)

Get ready... My Ex Wife Tracey! She is going through a really tough time (both emotionally and health wise) and her current phone is a POS. She really wants a BB but cannot afford it with 3 little kids. We have split custody and I feel bad that she has it so tough

I nominate my mother. We ALL have things to be greatful for and our mothers and fathers are the first. The reason why I nominate my mom is because she's always on the go traveling around the country and has her AT&T - Cingular phone, but its one of those old phones from like the late 90s. You know, thos square ones where there's no folding, it looks like the Motorola Slivr or something like that. But the phone is rom her original plan with no camera, Internet, NOTHING... I'm not even sure she recieves the text messages I send to her on it! Its all changing colors from the oil and dirt on your hands, and the lotion that she puts on all the time. I've tried to get her to get a new phone and the people at the AT&T stores and customer service always try to push a new phone on her as well. I figure that if she was able to get this Bold, then she'll be able to more easily keep in touch with her kids (my sister and myself) and her three grandchildren, to include her newborn grandson. Oh, and the other people that she is friends with too both through phone calls, sms, mmms, and emails! So please, pick me because it'd be a great Christmas preset for her, especially since its a BLACKBERRY!

Good Morning Crackberry!

This is great! You see, I am doing my own "pay it forward" as well. In August of 2008 my daughter and only child who will soon be 5 this December was diagnosed with leukemia. We were are happy to say she continues to take and handle her treatments well! After 2 long months that she, along with my wife and I had to spend in Boston Children's Hospital, we were very fortunate to be able to be home for the Holidays! Though the Holidays were not the most memorable of them due to my daughter not feeling well I was still grateful to be home with her!

So the reason I write this is because of this, you see, this year we are once again grateful that our daughter will be home again this Holiday season and in much higher spirits! But at the same time very sad to think of the kids and parents who will not be so lucky and have to spend the holidays up on 6 North's Cancer floor at Children's Hospital which is why this year I have created "Toys 4 Joys From friends of Hannah" which I will be receiving donated toys to bring up to these kids in honor of my daughter.

So I pledge this! As a parent and the love for technology! A tech geek for say! I know how much my Blackberry Storm help keep my sanity at times and also to keep connected with friends and family while in the hospital.

So I nominate a selected family member with the help of the Children's Hospital staff that I will be working with to receive a Blackberry this Holiday season as my way to continue to pay it forward! Thank you so much!

Sincerely,
Rich LeBlanc
r.leblanc70@gmail.com
A sad Storm 1 owner but a very very happy Crackberry user!

Please look at my facebook link for more details!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=186254002270&ref=ts

I want to nominate my husband...perhaps if he had his own blackberry he would stop hounding me about being on my bb all the time...please give him something to play with for me!!!!

I'd nominate my dad who is currently using an old, beat up razr. He uses his phone mostly for work and I know he would appreciate something better than what he has. I would love to surprise him with a new bold.

I nominate my roommate Richard Tucker we are currently attend college and he recently lost his phone and doesn't have the funds to purchase a new one and all of the financial aid money from the school is only enough for books and classes. It would be greatly appreciated if he would because then he would be able to access the internet and his school emails from his phone. And if anyone desevres a phone it would be him.

I have a friend in Lousiana who works for a not-profit agency aiming to improve the environment by promoting green energy. He travels widely and has to carry a computer everywhere he goes to keep track of his e-mail for work. The agency has budget troubles and can ill afford a smart phone. The man has his own financial troubles with a low paying job.

I nominate my friend, John, for the 9000. I can't think of anyone in my life more deserving and needy.

besides being a faithful BB user, she is an extraordinary woman. Having been out of work for some 6 months going through cancer therapy, as she approaching the end, it would be great for her to have a new BB to revive her efforts in getting back into the workforce.

I'd nominate my girlfriend Chauntel. She's a mother of 2 kids whom are 2 & 3 (Noah and Carter). Her birthday was about a month and a half ago and I had really wanted to get her a BlackBerry for her birthday but honestly I just couldn't afford it :( She had been using an AT&T Go-Phone for a long time but that would get very costly some months. I had promised her a new phone for her birthday (a BlackBerry honestly) and had to sit her down and explain to her that there just wasn't anyway I could afford a BB at that time (and that wasn't easy to do :( ). Anyway, when the time came to get her a new phone I had done some serious browsing of the AT&T website in hopes of getting her a free phone (so I wouldn't be a complete liar) and found her a WinMo POS that she's settle for (and that I could get her for free!). She's really been wanting a BlackBerry for a hot minute and I've been thinking of ways I could make it up to her for X-mas and get her one (but I'm not exactly rich by any means). I think this would be the perfect gift for her and I'd DEFINITELY be back in good standings with my girlfriend! Thank you chance either way...

I would like to nominate Grant. Grant is an awesome guy and deserves recognition. A very sweet girl and her daughter were virtually abandoned by the baby's father after moving them to Florida from Tennessee. With only the clothes on her back and an overnight bag with a few clothes for her daughter, the girl returned to Tennessee. Grant became aware of this, took them both under his wing and is still helping them make ends meet. He leased them a place to live, keeps the lights on, helped her find a job, and helps provide care for her daughter. All of this on a delivery person's wages. He has never asked for anything in return. He gives with a smile on his face and a whistle on his lips. Even when he answers his poor lil slider phone that only works with a wired head-set. He refuses to use anything else, says he wants to hold out til he can get a really good phone. He is mesmerized by my Blackberry. Every time he sees mine he asks questions about it. Always wants to know about new apps and has visited us here on crackberry.com, window shopping.So, when the opportunity to upgrade from a Curve to a Storm arrived, the natural decision was to pay it forward...I think I was more excited to give him the devise than I was to get my Storm. Grant's immeasurable selflessness was shown again. He immediately gave the Curve to another friend who was using a phone that predated blue tooth. He asked if I would mind and said, "He really NEEDS the Blackberry, I only WANT the blackberry." I did not tell him but I had to choke back tears I was so moved. He was gushing when I handed him that phone. He was sooooo excited. But the moment he perceived another's need that excitement was taken from the Blackberry and put it with the opportunity to help someone else, again. Grant should be recognized. If someone else is in more NEED, I believe he would die before he would think of accepting it. But if I have conveyed half the selfless generosity that is in his heart you too would see he deserves this berry.

My bro Matt. His company had temporarily transferred him to London this summer and they set him up with an old 7300. He loved that old brick and having a blackberry in general more than anything. He's back stateside now and had to relinquish his antique berry. Due to the recession, his company is likely to cut jobs in the near future and he'll probably get laid off even though he's so devoted to his work.
He gets up at 4:30 am every morning, puts up with a two hour commute (each way) and is stuck in the office for at least 10 hours on a daily basis. Once he gets home he got like 2 hours to cook up some dinner and run errands before he has to go to bed again. Ever since he saw my phone (happens to be a Blackberry Bold) he's poised to get one himself before he got into a fender bender and was hit by having to pay off his credit card. Despite all this he remains unflappable and is far from complaining or whining about his situation. He's that typa guy who gives his shirt right off his back for a friend in need. I wish i could talk to him more often but his crappy phone and AT&T constantly drop his calls and as he spends most of his time at work i hardly get to talk to him anyway.

I would have to nominate my friend Steve.

1st off he is having a ruff time this holiday. His now ex fiancé moved out about 3 weeks ago (no ones fault, just wasn't working for her)and he's scrambling to find a roommate as he is now the sole owner of a house they purchased together but only in his name. …..The things Love will make you do, right…...
Anyway, he is pretty much flat broke and instead of worrying about getting gifts for family and friends he's worrying about whether or not he'll be able to pay the bills or if he'll be loosing his house for the new year.

Anyway the reason a Blackberry would actually brighten up his mood is because he runs his business out of his home and is currently stuck using an HTC Fuze that is falling apart, literally. It was originally given to him from his company before he went off on his own about 6 months ago. He has no money to even replace it with insurance which I think he said was a good chunk of change. I personally don't know what AT&T offers in that department. He uses or used it before it went to crap extensively for his business. Now he carries it around with a back up phone (old cingular phone I found at work and gave him) that he can drop his sim into when he needs to make a call but has to keep the Fuze so he can switch back for email when he's out and about. At this point he isn’t even driving if he can avoid it to save money on gas.

So obviously this wouldn’t solve all his problems by any means but I'm sure it would really brighten up his day and mood for the holidays. Plus he could finally go back to using one phone which I know would make him happy. Also I am pretty sure that he can save a few bucks on the plan required for a Blackberry apposed to a Windows Mobile phone and the plan needed for that device.

So, I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that are just as deserving or even more so.
Good luck to everyone, have a great holiday and I hope someone in need ends up with this great gift. Thanks Crackberry and thanks naviwilliams for being so generous.

living with my family was always so difficult for me but there was one person who always made it far better than just bearable,he made it BEAUTIFUL..he's my brother..about 4 years ago i left my house(including my brother)but i always had that feeling in my heart that i missed my brother because he was my best friend.we are 11 months apart we had been so close in age in school in everything.my brother has been by my side through hospitalizations,through my hurt my tears and moments when i thought i shouldnt be living. he's made a strong woman and a strong heart! i could go through anything because of him. i just want to nominate my brother and my hero and the reason why i CAN pull myself together.

I’ve been looking to get my mom a new phone, she’s currently using one that wreaks of cigarettes. She’s currently using a curve on tmobile that constantly locks up on her and tmobile wouldn’t fix or replace it because they claim it’s been abused. Abused my backside, I never said it smelt good, but come on. I horrible reason to refuse help or replacement, and on top of that, she’s still got about 9 months left on her contract, so she can’t just get a new phone for cheap.

Even if I don’t win this phone for her… does anyone have any ideas what options i have for this situation? The curve is already upgraded to the newest official OS. It’s been wiped a bunch of times… as far as i’m concerned it seems hardware related…

My brother Jeff is a hard working Dad with 2 kids, who despite all the massive hours he puts in at work doesn't have the means to pick up a shiny new BB. The good bro that I am I hooked him up w/ my old 8700 that made the rounds in my family , now on its 3rd user. The 8700 is his very 1st BB experience that he has only had for a few weeks now & he really loves it but is counting down the days until mid 2010 when his contract at Rogers will ALLOW him to upgrade at discounted price. Please hook my brother up a great guy who would truly appreciate it & "Pay It Forward"

Warmest Regards,
Barry Dunn
email: bdunn014@gmail.com

If I ever get my 9700 I would love to pay forward my 9000. I just need to get my 9700 first!

RIM any well wishers there want to make my Christmas and someone elses?

I nominate my Wife, Eva. About a year ago I got my Storm. She was stuck with her second hand me down phone by that point. I have had a "black cloud" over my head financially for some time. Long, story short.. after watching all this BB madness around the family as there were a couple being used, she finally decided she wanted one. So when finally able to upgrade (wanted to wait till it would be cheapest, best deal), the best I could scrounge up for her is a BB Curve 8330! Couldn't even afford to get her the new Curve. You all know how outdated the 8330 is/can be. Anyway, after having it for two weeks she loves it, and uses every feature religiously. This woman has found ways to keep our family of five going for years, even through all my BS I caused, :-p. She deserves an updated phone so she can fully get the "gist of what it means to be a CB!

That my father gets it. From a very young child my father worked two jobs (University of Cincinnati and The Cincinnati Gardens) working swing shift year after year to make sure that my mother, my 2 sisters and myself had everything we could want and more. I remember countless Christmas Mornings waking up with my just my mom and sisters because my dad was working. I remember eating Thanksgiving dinners the night before or after Thanksgiving because he had to work thanksgiving day. Then when my mother had breast cancer when i was in middle school my father had to make sure school work was done, we were feed, cleaned, and so on. while going back and forth to work and visiting my mom in the hospital. I could go on for hours about all of the wonderful stuff that my father has done for everyone in the community from feeding the Homeless @ City Gospel Mission here in Cincinnati, Ohio all the way to making sure my grandmother furnace stayed working in the winter. but to make a long story short i've never meet a more caring person, a more selflessness person and such a warm as a person as my father. If it wasn't for him - i wouldn't be who i am today. I just think it would be awesome for someone to has given so much to get a little back in return.

Am I the only one who doesn't really get the point in this.

If someone doesnt have the means to get a BB then how are they gonna pay the 29.99 data charge? Just wondering...

My Friend Sarah is a full time PhD student, and full time pathologist researcher. the last time i saw her have a chance to even sit in front of a computer for e-mails was months ago (when she was so sick she couldnt get out of be, so we brought her my laptop to use). Add to this the total (you dont wanna know how much) debt caused by years of undegrad, vet school and current PhD studies and you will understand what i mean by this woman has no time, no money, and no fun. I know that this blackberry would help give her some of 2 of those(save some time, and hopefully give her some fun here and there).

I am nominating my brother, John Enloe. He's had a pretty bad sting of luck recently, his car kept dying and then it was totaled in an accident. His iPhone was stolen at a bar and now his job isn't giving him the hours he needs. He's a hard working kid, and tends to have a good heart. He is currently rocking a dumbphone on the AT&T network. I'm positive he would be most appreciative of a new (to him) Bold.

Other than the fact that there are many needy people out there, and well wishing friends and family wanting to help them. What comes to mind is the in many of the money strapped stories is, how is the person going to pay for the BlackBerry plan, even is they get a free Blackberry?

Don't get me wrong here, I'm all for helping people, but who would want to saddle a struggling friend or family member, with and extra bill, if there are already struggling?

No better person to nominate; My mother is on AT&T and had a "Dumb Phone" and I reccommended she upgrade to a Smart Phone since she has to wake up at night quite often to help resolve material control issues with Suppliers in China. She has to communicate via I.M. or Email and I told her that with a Smart Phone she could do so without getting out of bed. Unfortunately, she went and got the same phone I had at the time (Palm Centro) figuring that she could call me if she had questions. Come to find out the small screen and even smaller keyboard make it impossible for her to efficively compose emails. She is 14 mos. from her upgrade date and has taken a 20% pay cut due to the economy. The Blackberry would solve her issue and allow her to avoid getting out of bed when she has to get up at 4:45AM to get ready for work. I tried for the 9700 for her and missed on that one but maybe this will work out.

I Nominate my brother Sean Henri. He runs several websites and works extensively off his iphone. I have been trying to tell him his job would be much much easier if he would switch to a blackberry, but refuses to change. I know once he tries a blackberry he will never go back to the Iphone Please help

My niece is on our family's cell phone plan cause her mom can't afford to maintain service... and as any teen (and even adults) these days... having a way to call home, especially in a not so nice neighborhood is very important.

I had initially gotten her a free phone, but it was damaged and now uses a pre-paid phone (with the regular T-Mobile chip in it).

She has had to adapt to many things in her life with her father leaving out of the picture several years ago and that was hard on her. Although she and her mom are in a new family setting, you can't tell she isn't very happy as the new kids have their complete set of parents and she does not.

She has been very responsible, and even though she has been through alot... has not gone wild or rebelled... She has become an avid Manga, Comic, and Anime fan as that keeps her busy and happy.

I really hope you consider her for the blackberry, and thank you for your time. -Izzy

He runs a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those with learning disabiliites. David Holmes is on the road all the time, working out of the office most days so he has to live on his device.

I have a friend at work, Brian Kuechler, that has an old Pearl 8100. He and I hit it off when I learned that he had a BlackBerry. Between balancing a part time job where I work, supporting his family, and trying to get a small business going, he depends on his BlackBerry to keep his life organized. The only problem is that his old Pearl is falling apart very quickly. He constantly has to pull the battery because it doesn't respond when he needs it to and it randomly drops calls etc. His trackball always jams up despite me cleaning it out for him on a regular basis, and I can barely read the letters on his keyboard. The chrome trim on the sides is even separating from the body of the device!

I've told him several times that he needs to get his BlackBerry replaced, but T-Mobile won't replace it for him and because of his small business and his family, he can't afford to buy a new one or pay the termination fee for his contract to switch carriers. I would really like to help him out and get him a new BlackBerry, and this seems like the perfect opportunity.

one of my granchildren so they can text from the best a blackberry

This is such a great idea! Kudos!

I want to nominate my best friend Basia Owca, My friend got her 8900 stolen last month and is now using my old Sidekick ... which she hates. The worst part about the stolen is that... we have the girl on camera who took her phone yet nothing was done about it by the school OR by the Police which is REALLY REALLY crappy. She would have bought another one with her insurance but she does not have that kind of money to dish out for a new phone. The only reason she was able to afford it before was because it was an upgrade .. and even then she had to wait months before she could save the money for her upgrade discounted phone. I thinks he would be the BEST person for this contest... Id buy her a new phone myself if I had the money. I don't know what I would do if someone were to steal my blackberry.

Not only did we have her on camera but when we questioned her about it she told us that she had no clue what we were talking about... LAME! Please pick my friend ... she really deserves it. It's annoying to see someone unpunished when people do you wrong. :(

Thanks
Dan :(

I would like to nominate one of my daughters to receive the device. She is at home with no transportation while her husband is at work. He is in sales, and gets home quite late at night. Occasionally, she has use of the vehicle, but is without a cell phone. Case in point: she had the car about a month ago and was taking one of the kids to school. The car broke down and she had to walk back to our house, very pregnant and in the Florida heat. It was about a two mile walk. If she had been in possession of a cell phone, her mother or I would have been happy to go and pick her up.

Thank you for a great opportunity.

I would love to win this for my best friend Kristy. She of course has a beat up, used and abused Curve that she has had for 2 years. I know she would love to upgrade to a Bold but just doesn’t have the financial means to do so right now, particularly due to paying off debts and helping family members out with their own things. She gives and gives to her friends and family and keeps putting her own desires aside to fulfill her obligations and help those close to her. This would be such a surprise for her, such a welcome gift, and she would love that Bold to smithereens! Thanks for the opportunity, CB!!

I want to pay it forward to my sister , Christy. She is a single mom of four beautiful children. For many years she has struggled to make ends meet, but has always provided for her children. I dont know when the last time she has bought clothes for herself,always secondhand, so that she can provide new clothes for her children. She has nothing of value for herself because anything and everything she has extra goes to her kids. I think she desires a special gift that she so greatly deserves for her being so selfless all the time. She was recently in a carwreck and was hit from behind at 60 mph, she now has back and neck injuries and is induring physical therapy to get well and work again. I admire her and I think she deserves something special for being a wonderful mother and person as she is going through this rough time right before Christmas. Thank you! jackiecardoza@clearwire.net

I would like to nominate my wife Liz. The quick story is that my wife is Australian and I am South African. we got married in Australia and she moved to South Africa.

Her family is very close and due to the expensive cost of telecommunications in S.A., they dont talk as often as they would like. We also often use up all our bandwidth, so she then is unable to Skype and Msn. However, with her contract and a BB package, she would be able to keep in more regular contact (she sometimes uses my Bold, but with the time difference and me working this doesn't often help).

One of the saddest things for her, is that her parents are missing out on their 1st Grandchild doing his "first's" (crawl; talk; word; tooth). He will be 9 months on the 29th and they have so far missed crawling and teeth popping up.

A Bold would enable her to e-mail pics, videos and message her sisters and brothers so much easier.

It would truly make her year (actually the birth of our son made her year, but it would be up there).

I mominate my brother brock. Brock is 27 years old and the oldest kid in our family and he has a son that is 2.Brock loves tecnology and he wold love to have a blackberry and the reason he deserves one is because Last year during a colonoscopy the doctor found a 7 inch tumor in his colon.This finding of the tumor lead to many different test on Brock. These test came back and revealed that he had stage 4 colon cancer that has progressed to his liver and lipnods. My brother has no cell phone right now so if anything happens to him or his son while he is out and about there be nothing he can do.My brother reciving this phone could possibly one day save his life.

I do have a blackberry and recived it as a christmas present. if my brother had a blackberry it would also allow me to communicate with him and i need to do as much communicating to my brother as i can while i still can.

This is cool.
I nominate Marji P..
She has out used her Pearl and needs to step up to a Bold new Blackberry.