To help provide equitable learning access and opportunities and keep local youth connected, UScellular has donated 25 wireless hotspots and two years of service to Illinois Extension’s 4-H Youth Development as part of its After School Access Project. Currently, more than 40 million people in the United States lack reliable access to high-speed internet.1 This leads to an issue known as the “homework gap” among youth who lack proper internet access. 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 success of students in the communities we serve is very important to us at UScellular,” said April Penn, store manager for UScellular in Galesburg, “Connecting people and communities is our mission and the After School Access Project is just one way that we’re helping ensure students have the reliable access they need to grow and pursue their dreams.”
Through the After School Access Project, the company has pledged to donate up to $13 million in hotspots and service to help up to 50,000 youth connect to reliable internet in its markets. To date, the company has donated more than 3,800 hotspots, a value of $3.7 million, to its communities through this initiative. Eligible 501c3 nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply by going to www.AfterSchoolAccessProject.com.
4-H is the largest out-of-school youth program in the country and operates in every county in Illinois, including Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren counties. The hotspots will be used to support programs in informal, out-of-school settings without appropriate connectivity in areas of particular interest to youth like coding, robotics and other STEM programs. 4-H club youth will see greater overall access as well thanks to the ability to check out hotspots from the office.
“We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation from UScellular,” said Shelby Carlson, extension educator, 4-H Youth Development. “STEM programs have been in incredibly high demand lately and in the rural communities we serve, connectivity is always an issue. With this donation, we have been able to meet local youth where they are with high quality programming, we are proud of. This has been a game changer with how we serve area youth.”
Hotspots are stand-alone Wi-Fi networks that can connect several devices at once wirelessly and have proven to be a vital tool for youth to access the internet, study and complete homework. The hotspots provided through After School Access Project connect to UScellular’s network to provide high-speed connectivity for youth throughout central Illinois through 4-H.
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 donated nearly $21.4 million along with countless experiences and technology items to nonprofit organizations across the country. For more information about the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, please go to https://newsroom.uscellular.com/community/.
https://broadbandnow.com/research/fcc-underestimates-unserved-by-50-percent
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 elevate the customer experience. 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. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com. Connect with UScellular on social media at facebook.com/uscellular, twitter.com/uscellular, instagram.com/uscellular, YouTube.com/uscellularcorp and linkedin.com/company/uscellular.
###
For more information, contact:
Kelly Harris
(314)436-9090