To help provide equitable learning access and opportunities and keep local youth connected, UScellular has donated 50 hotspots and two years of service, valued at $56,300 to Youth Advocate Programs located at 3807 Brandon Ave SW, Suite 1115, in Roanoke.

Roanoke was one of five Youth Advocate Programs that received a donation. In total, the UScellular donation to Youth Advocate Programs was 175 wireless hotspots and two years of service, valued at $197,050 as part of its After School Access Project. The hotspots will be distributed across four additional Youth Advocate Programs locations along with Roanoke, including:

·       Davenport, Iowa: 25 hotspots ($28,150 donation value)

·       Milwaukee: 25 hotspots ($28,150 donation value)

·       Oklahoma City: 25 hotspots ($28,150 donation value)

·       Peoria, Illinois: 50 hotspots ($56,300 donation value)

UScellular’s After School Access Project provides mobile hotspots and free 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 Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. 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 Nakeita Stewart, director of sales for the Mid-Atlantic at UScellular. “We encourage Virginia nonprofit organizations to apply for this program and help us bring reliable wireless internet access to youth across America.”

Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc. is a national nonprofit dedicated to keeping youth and adults safely at home with their families and supported by their communities. For nearly 50 years, YAP has fulfilled its mission through advocacy, policy change, and cost-effective direct service programming, serving thousands of families annually in over 100 communities across the country. YAP provides intensive support through its YAPWrap™ model, which combines best practices from wraparound, mentoring, and positive youth development, ensuring services are tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each family.

“YAP is appreciative to UScellular for providing hotspots for our programs in some of our more rural communities, including Roanoke, Virginia, Milwaukee, Peoria, Illinois, Oklahoma City, and Davenport, Iowa,” said YAP CEO and President Gary Ivory. “The hotspots will allow our staff and program participants to be able to the use the internet more efficiently so they may connect to services that support the agency’s mission of advocating, supporting and empowering individuals, families and neighborhoods to thrive.”

Since 2021, the company has donated more than $30 million in mobile hotspots and service, connecting more than 100,000 youths throughout hundreds of organizations across the country.

Eligible 501c3 nonprofit organizations can learn more about the program at www.AfterSchoolAccessProject.com.

Participating organizations are:

-       Certified 501c3 nonprofit organizations

-       Operate within UScellular’s service area

-       Focused on kindergarten through 12^th grade

-       Not a school or government entity

UScellular is focused on addressing gaps in STEM education and is committed to connecting more than 120,000 of tomorrow’s innovators each year with the resources they need today to help shape future opportunities. Since 2009, UScellular has invested more than $47 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 newsroom.uscellular.com/community.

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 donated more than $23 million in hotspots and service to help youth connect to reliable internet. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com.