May 31, 2023
Eligible Non-profit Organizations Encouraged to Apply
To help provide equitable learning access and opportunities and keep local youth connected, UScellular has donated 25 wireless hotspots and two years of service, valued at $28,150, to Tennessee Golf Foundation as part of its After School Access Project. UScellular’s After School Access Project provides free mobile hotspots and service to nonprofits that support youth after the school day has ended and provides safe internet access for homework and education.
The hotspots provided to Tennessee Golf Foundation connect to UScellular’s wireless network to provide high-speed connectivity for youth while at the facility and at the homes of members who check out the devices.
“Connecting people and communities is our mission and the After School Access Project is just one way that we’re helping ensure youth have the reliable access they need to grow and pursue their dreams,” said Thomas White, director of sales for East Tennessee at UScellular. “We encourage Tennessee non-profit organizations to apply for this program and help us bring reliable wireless internet access to youth across America.”
Tennessee Golf Foundation’s First Tee program is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, the organization creates active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence and resilience.
“We serve numerous populations from rural to urban inner-city youth, as well as homeschool programs,” said Shawn Mauer, executive director of Tennessee Golf Foundation’s First Tee of Tennessee. “The donated hotspots create opportunities for educational success and allow the foundation to support learning and exploration while aiding students’ work at our many satellite sites.”
Since 2021, the company has donated more than $12 million supporting more than 100 organizations with hotspots and service nationwide. In early 2023, UScellular extended its pledge and committed up to $13 million in new funding to the program.
In 2022, UScellular donated a combined $722,600 worth of hotspots and service to four other Tennessee nonprofits to help youth connect to the internet.
Non-profits that meet the following criteria can apply at afterschoolaccessproject.com:
- Certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
- Operate within UScellular’s service area
- Focused on kindergarten through 12th grade
- Not a school or government entity
Additionally, UScellular donated $60,400 to non-profit organizations across Tennessee, including $30,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, $25,000 to the YWCA of Knoxville & the Tennessee Valley, $4,900 in supplies to Nourish Knoxville and $500 to Junior Achievement of East Tennessee.
UScellular is focused on addressing gaps in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and is committed to connecting more than 200,000 of tomorrow’s innovators each year with the resources they need today to help shape future opportunities. Since 2009, UScellular has invested more than $35 million in monetary donations, technology resources and countless experiences to nonprofit organizations across the country.
For more information about the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, please go to https://newsroom.uscellular.com/community/.
About UScellular
UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to help customers stay connected to the things that matter most. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. Through its After School Access Project, the company has pledged to provide hotspots and service to help up to 50,000 youth connect to reliable internet. Additionally, UScellular has price protected all of its plans, promising not to increase prices through at least the end of 2024. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com.
