Know Your Wireless Company
Cell Phone Service Providers' Lesser Known Facts
Community outreach programs are a standard practice for most wireless providers, but many subscribers are unaware of these commitments.
Most wireless services support community outreach programs, however, their levels of community commitment is often not considered a prime selling tactic, and is not readily known to the consumer. After establishing which service best covers your area, consider these additional points before making your decision.
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless takes a stand against domestic violence through Project HopeLine; Verizon's outreach program focusing on both combating and increasing national awareness of domestic violence. Verizon collects old cell phones and refurbishes them for resale and re-use, and allocates the proceeds toward the project's funding. Further, the revenues are distributed through cash grants to domestic violence shelters nationally. The company also offers a direct toll free link to the National Domestic Violence hotline by dialing #Hope.
Sprint
Sprint began their Project Connect program in 2002, of which the proceeds from their phone collection and refurbishing campaign and re-sale go toward the betterment of internet safety for children. Sprint has also been instrumental in building playgrounds in low income communities. The company supports Christmas in October; a program that upgrades homes and community centers that have fallen into disrepair, and participates in annual food drives. Sprint is also a supporter of the United Way.
AT&T
AT&T participates in The Great American Cleanup, an annual event that occurs from March to May, through city beautification projects and educating the public in the preservation of communities. AT&T also maintains the company's long time contributory relationships with the United Way and with the Junior Achievement program by teaming youth with AT&T employees to assist in the learning of economics and enterprise through various available career opportunities, and solidifying the importance of staying in school.
Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile's outreach commitments cover a wide range of social issues from global warming to homelessness. Known for their sponsored music festivals globally, Virgin Mobile constantly searches for ways to make their events as environmentally friendly as possible.
The company's signature project, Project Re*Generation focuses on troubled and homeless youth. This project is funded primarily through cell phone collection and resale, downloaded content purchases, and an annual art auction entitled Lost Youth Found. Virgin Mobile's partnership with Stand Up For Kids focuses on the estimated 2.8 million youth living on the streets in the US, and Youth Noise, an online social network where kids can congregate and feel that they have a voice regarding current social issues.
T-Mobile
The primary function of T-Mobile's Project Huddle Up, which was launched in 2006, is providing safe after school programs in urban areas. Project Huddle Up ensures internet access through the donation of equipment and service to the after school programs it directly supports through the resale of recycled cell phones. The philosophy behind Project Huddle Up is that affording safe and enriching environments for teens during after school hours will reduce crime rates among youth offenders. The project also supports the matching of children of fractured families with local adult volunteers to work as mentors.
Most of these wireless service providers also take part in enrichment and achievement programs geared toward grades K-12, and offer various educational grants throughout the nation. Additionally, many of these service providers also offer an opt-in choice for subscribers who wish to receive AMBER alerts for missing children within their geographical areas.
So, whether your interest lies with combating domestic violence, inner city after school programs, community beautification, homelessness or combating global warming, consider choosing a carrier based on the community outreach platform they support. You can take pride in knowing that through your choice of wireless provider, you are also making a difference in a cause that you believe in.
For more information on any of the community oriented platforms of service providers, visit the various wireless carrier websites and search for community outreach programs.
