CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (May 18, 2016) – U.S. Cellular and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia announced a donation of $2,500 for 2016 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming. This contribution will expand its programming to help area students in Charlottesville succeed in school and prepare for future careers. Together with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), U.S. Cellular is committed to building better communities by championing K-12 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) educational programs.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia is one of 57 Boys & Girls Club organizations nationwide receiving a share of the $1 million donation by U.S. Cellular. This is the second year U.S. Cellular will support academic programming through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, with an emphasis on promoting literacy, STEM learning, and career exploration and preparation.
“U.S. Cellular’s ongoing commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a reflection of our dedication to big and small cities as well as rural communities we serve across the country,” says Nathan Waddell, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-South. “As we enter our second year, we are excited to continue to work with this organization to focus on STEM programming, as it is an important way to help youth develop relevant career and leadership skills.”
“It is our responsibility to help area kids and teens achieve academic success,” said Caroline Stout, Grants and Program Outcomes Coordinator, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia. “With support from U.S. Cellular, we hope to inspire interest in important STEM subjects that will translate to great futures, whether within those industries or another field altogether.”
To enhance academic achievement among youth, U.S. Cellular also engages its associates in ongoing volunteer opportunities, such as mentoring and hands-on learning experiences at local Clubs. To further expand their impact, U.S. Cellular associates participated in National Volunteer Month in April with the company’s annual ‘Month of Giving’ program. After surpassing last year’s inaugural goal of 30,000 volunteer hours, U.S. Cellular announced a goal of 35,000 volunteer hours for 2016.
U.S. Cellular has a longstanding commitment to the community and education and has contributed more than $8.35 million to local educational programming since 2009.
For more information, visit uscellular.com/communityinvolvement.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia
As the leading provider of youth development programs in the area, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia (BGCCVA), serves 3,000 boys and girls, ages 6 – 18, residing in the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Orange and Madison in a total of six Clubs. Programs are open to all young people, particularly those from disadvantaged circumstances, for a basic membership fee of $35 per year that is waived if not affordable. The Club is open every day after school, all day during the summer and during expanded hours on evenings and weekends.
The BGCCVA’s mission is “to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens.” Club activities address five Core Areas of youth development: Education & Career; Character & Leadership; Health & Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness, & Recreation. All activities have specific skill goals as well as the underlying goal of instilling a sense of competence, a sense of usefulness, a sense of belonging and a sense of power. Outcomes for our kids emphasize on-time graduation, healthy lifestyles and service to Club and community. Focusing on these areas has proven to be most effective in impacting long-term outcomes for youth and helping them become productive citizens.
About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular is the fifth-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 has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by a high-quality network in big and small cities and rural communities, and currently, 99 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Champion in 2014 for the third time in four years. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.
