Category Logo

UScellular Donates $30,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley

August 11, 2022

Grant Focuses on Providing Access to STEM Learning and Experiences

UScellular has announced a $30,000 investment in Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley to provide educational opportunities and experiences to local youth. The company has invested in Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley to support K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and academic enrichment programs.

The STEM learning and experience provided is designed to prepare students for the careers of tomorrow, and according to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth Outcomes survey, the youth at clubs display far greater interest in pursuing STEM careers than their peers nationally (52% vs. 27%).

This year the funding will support Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley with the purchase of technology, support staff for STEM training, a STEM-related field trip and Family STEM night event.

“We’ve heard from parents and students that they think STEM is good for their future careers, but 48% of students and 41% of parents don’t know enough about the opportunities a STEM education would afford,[1]”  said Thomas White, director of sales for UScellular in East Tennessee. “Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley provides this critical access so that we can build a future of bright and enthusiastic tech leaders.”

“At Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, we emphasize academic success and preparing our members for their future,” said Bart McFadden, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. “One of the most effective ways to accomplish that is strong STEM programming. With the support of UScellular, we can provide activities and experiences for our members in STEM-related fields. Hence, our members are performing very well in STEM classes in school and are exposed to future careers that are in demand in today’s world.”

Last year, UScellular also donated 2,845 hotspots and services – a value of nearly $2.6 million – to 35 Boys & Girls Clubs as a part of the After School Access Project, a program that provides free mobile hotspots and service to nonprofits that support youth after the school day has ended.

In 2022, UScellular donated multiple wireless hotspots and two years of service to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, Women Are Dreamers Too and YWCA Knoxville & the Tennessee Valley. The organizations use the hotspots to boost connectivity onsite and also loan the devices to youth and their families to support reliable access at home.

Hotspots are stand-alone Wi-Fi networks that can connect several devices at once wirelessly and have proven to be a vital tool for youth to access the internet, study and complete homework. The hotspots provided through After School Access Project connect to UScellular’s network to provide high-speed connectivity for youth throughout East Tennessee.

Since 2009, UScellular has donated nearly $21.4 million along with countless experiences and technology items 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 elevate the customer experience. 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. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com. Connect with UScellular on social media at facebook.com/uscellular, twitter.com/uscellular, instagram.com/uscellular, YouTube.com/uscellularcorp and linkedin.com/company/uscellular.

[1] UScellular survey fielded online by Hall & Partners from November 11 – November 29, 2021, among 1,000 parents and 1,000 students (18-25 years old) across a national footprint, with a margin of error of [+/- 3.2%].