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Press Release -- July 25th, 2011
Source: Sprint Nextel
Tags: CLEC, Equipment, Exchange, Video

Record Demand for Tickets “Frees” Out 2011 Virgin Mobile FreeFest Presented by Kyocera

Virgin Mobile USA Announces Other Ways Fans Can Access Tickets to “Free’d” Out Virgin Mobile FreeFest

Return of Award-Winning “FREE I.P.” Program for FreeFest 2011 so Fans Can Earn Tickets by Volunteering to Help Homeless Youth

Virgin Mobile FreeFest Flyaway Sweepstakes Will Bring Fans to FreeFest via Virgin America Airlines

WARREN, N.J. (BUSINESS WIRE), July 25, 2011 – Once again, Virgin Mobile FreeFest tickets have “free’d-out” in just a few minutes, but Virgin Mobile USA, creator of one of the largest and most critically acclaimed music festivals in the country, today announced that music fans need not worry. Those still wanting to attend can volunteer their time at homeless youth shelters in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia to earn a ticket to FreeFest through The RE*Generation program, Virgin Mobile’s charitable initiative focused on ending youth homelessness.

The 2011 Virgin Mobile FreeFest presented by Kyocera will take place Saturday, Sept. 10, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. Artists include The Black Keys, Deadmau5, Cee Lo Green, Big Sean and TV on the Radio.

“FreeFest has always been about giving back,” said Felicia Hill, manager of Viral Campaigns & Brand Initiatives, Virgin Mobile USA. “We give the public an awesome free show and we hope that concert-goers will pay it forward. Whether it be giving a donation or actually volunteering to earn a ticket, we’re encouraging fans and customers to help young people less fortunate than themselves.”

During the last two FreeFests, nearly $300,000 was raised, and volunteers gave more than 55,000 hours of their time to the cause.

The festival’s presenting sponsor, Kyocera, will be showcasing new ways to express its enterprise-wide greening initiative on the festival grounds. The mobile-phone manufacturer, with global headquarters in Japan, also will be following Virgin Mobile’s philanthropic lead by collecting donations on-site to aid in the recovery effort from this year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

“Kyocera is proud of its long-standing relationship with Virgin Mobile, and we’ve supported FreeFest each of its six years because we share Virgin’s desire to give back to our communities,” said Eric Anderson, senior vice president and general manager of sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. “FreeFest is not only a great music event, but also a fantastic platform for charitable initiatives like the recovery efforts in Japan and Virgin Mobile’s RE*Generation project.”

Get Involved

Now through Aug. 28 in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, the RE*Generation’s “Free I.P.” program will allow fans to volunteer several hours of time in exchange for a ticket to the free festival. This offer is good while ticket supplies last. Interested volunteers can sign up to help at http://www.virginmobilefreeip.com. Fans can also purchase a Fan e-Pak, which includes a general admission ticket with a portion of the proceeds going to youth homelessness.

Give Back

Although the festival is free, Virgin Mobile is encouraging donations to help provide educational opportunities for homeless youth. Homeless youth organizations working with Virgin Mobile USA include Causecast, Sasha Bruce Youthwork and StandUp For Kids.

“The ongoing recession has hit homeless families particularly hard,” said Deborah Shore, executive director of Sasha Bruce Youthwork, a youth and family service agency that has partnered with Virgin Mobile USA and provides outreach, shelter and independent living programs for homeless youth in Washington, D.C.

“Virgin Mobile’s commitment to helping provide safe homes for homeless youth is remarkable and couldn’t come at a better time,” she said. “Helping young people to volunteer in support of families who are struggling to survive is a model approach to lift the entire community. Our partnership with Virgin Mobile will mean – once again – that homeless youth in the nation’s capital have more of the tools and supplies necessary to succeed.”

The FreeFest volunteer program is powered by an innovative volunteer tracking and rewards technology created by Causecast.

“FreeFest is a great example of the impact consumer brands can make when they put their weight behind causes,” said Ryan Scott, CEO of Causecast. “Our volunteer tracking technology was built for this kind of worthwhile program, and we hope it will inspire other companies to do the same.”

Flyaway Sweepstakes

Now through Aug. 10 fans can enter to win the Virgin Mobile FreeFest Flyaway sweepstakes with two grand-prize packages, including two FreeFest tickets, a two-night hotel stay in Columbia, Md., and round-trip airfare on Virgin America. Fans can enter via the Virgin Mobile Live Facebook page, sending in a QR Code featured in several Flyaway advertisements, or via text message by texting FESTAWAY to 66937. Text STOP to 66937 to opt-out. The official sweepstakes rules are featured on www.virginmobilefestival.com

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 48 Contiguous United States (D.C.) 18 years and older. Ends 8/10/11. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions, visit www.virginmobilefestival.com. Void in Alaska, Hawaii, and where prohibited.

About Virgin Mobile FreeFest

The 2011 Virgin Mobile FreeFest will be hosted for the third year on the beautiful 40 wooded acres of Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., on Saturday, Sept. 10. Those scheduled to appear at this year’s FreeFest are The Black Keys, Deadmau5, Cee Lo Green, TV on the Radio, Patti Smith, Empire of the Sun, Cut Copy, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Okkervil River, Big Sean, Two Door Cinema Club, Alberta Cross, and Bombay Bicycle Club. The Dance Forest will feature James Murphy, Calvin Harris, Ghostland Observatory, !!!, Porter Robinson, Eclectic Method, and Teddybears. More information is available at www.virginmobilefreefest.com.

About Virgin Mobile USA

Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint’s prepaid brands, offers millions of customers control, flexibility and connectivity through Virgin Mobile’s Beyond Talk™ plans for mobile phone service and prepaid Broadband2Go high-speed Web access. Virgin Mobile branded devices are available at more than 40,000 retail stores, including Best Buy, Radio Shack, Target and Walmart. Top-Up cards are available at approximately 150,000 locations nationwide and can be used for Broadband2Go services. Purchase and experience Virgin Mobile on the Web and at Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and www.virginmobileusa.com.

About Kyocera Communications Inc.

Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) is the headquarters for Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless products and accessories in the Americas. The company’s devices are driving the convergence of telecommunications, broadband and multimedia. KCI was formed in April 2009 through the combination of Kyocera Wireless Corp. and Kyocera Sanyo Telecommunications Inc., two wholly owned subsidiaries of Kyocera International Inc. The former was created when Kyocera purchased QUALCOMM Incorporated’s consumer wireless phone business in 2000, while the latter was formed when Kyocera purchased the wireless phone business of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. in 2008. Based in San Diego, KCI leverages Japan’s history of creating advanced consumer technologies around humanism and respect for the environment and blending them with a Western entrepreneurialism and style, resulting in a unique design language and a natural, user-friendly interface. For more information, please visit http://www.kyocera-wireless.com or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kyoceramobilephones.

Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as “advanced ceramics”). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, office-document imaging equipment, solar power generating systems, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2010, the company’s net sales totaled 1.07 trillion yen (approximately US $11.5 billion). Kyocera marked its 50th anniversary in 2009, and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked #554 on Forbes magazine’s 2010 “Global 2000” listing of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.

About Virgin America

Headquartered in California, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. Since its August 2007 launch, Virgin America has been named “Best Domestic Airline” in the Condé Nast Traveler 2008, 2009 and 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards and “Best Domestic Airline” in Travel + Leisure’s 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World’s Best Awards. The airline’s new aircraft offer custom-designed mood-lit cabins, interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat. Virgin America offers Gogo™ WiFi on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the North American skies with movies, live tv, a 3000 MP3 library, music videos, interactive Google maps, seat-to-seat chat and more available via the touch-screen Red™ platform at every seat. For more: www.virginamerica.com.

About Causecast

As the premier cause integration platform, Causecast uses technology and data to connect nonprofits and brands. Causecast partners with its corporate clients to engage employees and activate consumers by incorporating relevant nonprofit donation and volunteer opportunities into their websites, across campaigns and throughout organizations. For nonprofits, Causecast offers free fundraising tools, no-cost donation processing and access to cause-minded brands and publishers, resulting in higher supporter activation, enhanced fundraising capabilities and increased awareness of their message. For more information visit www.causecast.org or email info@causecast.org.

Contact(s):

Virgin Mobile USA
Beth Evegan, 908-660-0469
Beth.Evegan@sprint.com

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