Attn. New York City: Sprint programs awarding more than $50,000 to outstanding local non-profits now open for applications

Application period for 2011 Sprint Community Champions Program and Sprint Local Grant Program runs through July 29

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), June 14, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) is now accepting applications for the New York City Sprint Community Champions Program and Sprint Local Giving Program. In total, these programs will award four grants to New York City-area non-profit organizations this year, totaling $57,500. This is the third year Sprint has offered these programs to New York non-profits.

Sprint Local Grant Program – recognizing two New York City non-profit organizations with $25,000 Sprint Foundation grants

The Sprint Local Grant Program provides $25,000 Sprint Foundation grants to two New York City 501(c)3 organizations to support programs providing a meaningful impact in Sprint’s philanthropic focus areas of youth development (including mentoring, leadership and academic achievement), arts and culture, and environmental stewardship. Eligible organizations must be located in the New York City area (Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties in New York, and Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties in New Jersey). Additional eligibility requirements can be found at www.sprint.com/localgiving.

Nominations for the Sprint Local Grant Program will be accepted through 6 p.m. Eastern on Friday, July 29, at www.sprint.com/localgiving. The two selected organizations will be notified by mid-September, and the grants will be awarded by the end of November.

Sprint Community Champions Program – recognizing two outstanding New York City individuals for their ongoing community support

The Sprint Community Champions Program recognizes one adult and one high-school student who have made positive impacts on people and organizations in the New York City community. The Adult Champion will have a $5,000 Sprint Foundation grant donated in his or her name to a qualified non-profit organization of his or her choice. The Youth Champion will have a $2,500 Sprint Foundation grant donated in his or her name to a qualified non-profit organization of his or her choice. Eligible individuals for both the Adult Champion and the Youth Champion must reside in the New York City area (Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties in New York, and Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties in New Jersey). Additional eligibility requirements for the Champions, as well as for the charitable organizations that receive the grants, can be found at www.sprint.com/localgiving.

Nominations for the Sprint Community Champions Program will be accepted through 6 p.m. Eastern on Friday, July 29, at www.sprint.com/localgiving. The two selected individuals will be notified by mid-September, and grants in these individuals’ names will be awarded to qualifying organizations of their choice by the end of November.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 51 million customers at the end of 1Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.