UScellular Donates $28,150 in Wireless Hotspots
and Service to Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center
Eligible Nonprofit Organizations Encouraged to Apply
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (May 9, 2023) – 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 Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPEC) 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 Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center 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 Hunter Sprinkles, area sales manager at UScellular. “We encourage West Virginia nonprofit organizations to apply for this program and help us bring reliable wireless internet access to youth across America.”
EPEC’s mission is to protect victims, prevent violence and empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking. The nonprofit
accomplishes this by providing victims and survivors with resources to effectively cope with the personal, social, emotional and legal ramifications of victimization.
The hotspots will be loaned out to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking, and their children, to increase their access to resources and supports for their safety and independence. Increased wifi access will enable them to use wifi only cell phones, which will give them the ability to call for help when needed, as well as give them access to supports such as telehealth counseling through our agency, email communication with our agency's advocates, virtual support groups through our agency, and other resources that the agency posts online via social media and the EPEC website.
Since 2021, the company has donated more than $12 million supporting over 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.
Eligible 501c3 nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply by going to www.AfterSchoolAccessProject.
Certified 501c3 nonprofit organizations
Operate within UScellular’s service area
Focused on kindergarten through 12th grade
Not a school or government entity
UScellular is focused on addressing gaps in 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.
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.
