Sprint supports New York City with $50,000 in grants to the Long Island Children’s Museum, Bronx Arts Ensemble, and Futures and Options, Inc.

Local non-profits receive Sprint grants as part of company’s New York City Local Giving Program, now in its fifth year

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), December 12, 2013 – Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) recently announced the 2013 recipients of its New York City Local Giving Program. In total, three area non-profit organizations were awarded grants as part of this signature community-support program. The New York City Local Giving Program awarded Sprint grants totaling $50,000 to area non-profits that support the Sprint Project Connect focus area of Internet safety and other technology-related programs and resources to help youth succeed in a digital world. Grants were presented and recipient organizations were honored at a local reception yesterday.

The 2013 grant recipients are:

• The Long Island Children’s Museum was awarded a $25,000 Sprint Project Connect grant to support the Westbury STEM Partnership. This partnership provides a critical introduction to science, technology, engineering and math concepts for early grade levels in the Westbury School District. The school-museum teaching model includes professional development and resource materials for teachers, student field trips to the museum throughout the year, and community nights where parents and families gain free access to the museum to view student projects and experience their child’s classroom “extension.”
• The Bronx Arts Ensemble was awarded a $15,000 Sprint Project Connect grant to support its Technology in the Arts-In-Education Classroom program. Through this program, visual-art teaching artists incorporate smart boards, laptops and projectors during in-class presentations about noted art and performers. Students use laptops to compose music and create stop-gap animation videos. Teachers are given training on incorporating technology into their curriculum while using dance, drama, music and visual arts.
• Futures and Options, Inc. was awarded a $10,000 Sprint Project Connect grant to support the College Guidance and Success Program. As part of this program, approximately 500 students will attend workshops and take part in college guidance, career development and enhanced-learning activities. The students will be guided through their online college search, application and selection process, and receive individualized advice on their academic progress and future goals. They will also be paired with paid mentorship opportunities and have access to work-readiness training programs related to their areas of career interest.

These grants are made through the Sprint Project Connect program. Funding for this program is provided through a charitable phone-recycling program through which customers and non-customers can donate their no-longer-used wireless devices with net proceeds benefiting youth technology programs.

Sprint is a long-time supporter of the New York City community, and this is the fifth year Sprint has conducted the New York City Local Giving Program and has provided more than $250,000 in support to New York City-area non-profits. To learn more about the Sprint Local Giving Program and Sprint Good Works, please visit www.sprint.com/responsibility.

About Sprint Good Works^SM

Sprint is committed to using our technology, human and financial resources to help make the world a better place. This commitment infuses our business and culture, and it drives our Sprint Good Works^SM program. More than just a name, good works is also a belief: Good does indeed work^SM. The good works we perform every day benefit three key subjects: people, product and planet. For people, we demonstrate good works through targeted philanthropic initiatives and a diverse and ethical workforce. For a better product, we harness the power of innovation to help customers minimize their environmental footprint and increase their safety and security, and to empower seniors and those with disabilities to stay connected through accessible technology. For a healthier planet, we lead the industry with our sustainable business practices and wireless reuse and recycling programs. These are just a few of the ways we demonstrate good works to bring people and resources together for a better world. You can learn more about our good works at www.sprint.com/responsibility.

About Sprint

Sprint (NYSE:S) offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint served more than 54 million customers at the end of the third quarter of 2013 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. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

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