Improving the lifestyle and status of today's youth is a fundamental value of the way we live and work at Boost Mobile®. As a part of a dedicated effort to help American youth enhance their lifestyle and status, build stronger connections and achieve greater independence, Boost Mobile's Community Assistance program supports causes that promote youth development. Boost supports youth development programs through volunteerism, event support, mobile phones and service and financial donations to worthy organizations. Some of Boost's recent contributions include:
Boost Mobile supports The Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), an organization dedicated to fighting child abuse online. The VGT delivers low-cost, high impact initiatives that prevent and deter pedophiles from exploiting children online. The objectives of the VGT are:
As a VGT partner, Boost Mobile aims to help reduce the threat to children on-line and is committed to community safety and crime reduction. More information on VGT is available by clicking on the VGT logo featured here. Further information about "do's" and "don'ts" on the web, including wireless web on mobile phones and text messaging also is available at SafeTeens.com.
Used mobile phones can be in any condition, any brand, and do not need to have batteries. Recycling your old mobile phone(s) is environmentally friendly and environmentally responsible. It’s free and easy to send us your used cell phones and by doing so you will be supporting Global Inheritance, a non-profit organization working to reinvent activism for today’s young generation. Global Inheritance’s initiatives focus on the power of creativity to communicate and push for progressive social change while rejecting conflict. Click here to download the prepaid envelope.
Boost Mobile raised more than $100,000 to benefit the United Negro College Fund, Ludacris Foundation and the Chicago State University Foundation from the sale of its exclusive "Anthem" ringtone. "Anthem," the hot track featured in Boost Mobile's TV ad, was produced exclusively for Boost Mobile by Hip-Hop superstar Kanye West with original lyrics from Ludacris and THE GAME.
Boost teamed up with Lee Quiñones, a world-renowned contemporary artist, and his historical project, Tour de Lee, to raise money to aid kids and their families affected by Hurricane Katrina. During the course of Lee's 35-day journey from New York City to South Miami Beach, Lee biked nearly 1,500 miles. Boost not only provided Lee with financial support, but loaned him an i855 phone so he could keep in contact with friends and family while traveling.
Boost Mobile raised more than $60,000 to support the South Asia tsunami disaster relief effort from the sale of a variety of mobile phone ringtones. All Boost proceeds from the ringtone sales were donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) to help provide immediate relief and emergency supplies to the estimated 1.5 million affected children in South Asia. Boost is planning to implement another ringtone campaign to provide continued support to UNICEF.
Boost Mobile has established a relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) targeted towards helping inner-city youth. Boost Mobile is donating phones with unlimited Boost Walkie-Talkie service to BBBSA chapters around the U.S., enabling Big Brothers and Big Sisters to enhance communication and further develop their relationship with their mentees.
Boost is supporting Life Rolls On, a non-profit foundation founded in 1999 dedicated to increasing awareness of spinal cord injuries (SCI) within youth culture. Boost Mobile team rider Jesse Billauer, a globally recognized and respected paraplegic surfer is the founder of Life Rolls On. Equipped with Boost phones and service, Jesse travels all over the country telling his story and how no matter what, life rolls on. Together, Boost Mobile and Jesse are increasing youth awareness, and support programs to fund the research for the treatment and cure of paralysis caused by SCI.
During Winter 2006, Boost helped out the Cash for College campaign, that supports the California Student Aid Commission and EdFUnd. The program's sole mission is to reach out primarily to a graduating Latino and African American audience to let them know that they can go to college and that there is free help available through CalGrants. Boost donated one i415 phone to each market as an as an incentive to encourage students to participant. Cash for College provides volunteer experts at more than 250 free workshops across California to help students fill out the FAFSA and GPA required forms. Nearly 10,000 students filled out the necessary paperwork to qualify for CalGrants.
In 2006, Boost is teaming up with Stoked Mentoring, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing successful teens with opportunity, knowledge, experience and determination through action sports, mentoring and coaching. Stoked Mentoring is able to expose "at risk" youth to new environments and experiences through snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing trips. Boost will be providing walkie-talkie service to staff so they can easily communicate at their various events throughout the year.
RockCorps, an organization harnessing the power of music to inspire volunteerism, and Boost Mobile are partnering again in 2006 to take Boost Mobile RockCorps (BMRC) to the next level. BMRC is the groundbreaking national extension of the RockCorps program that last year motivated more than 6,000 young people throughout the U.S. to get involved, engage with their community and inevitably become part of a youth movement for social change. Combining the energizing force of music, community and an ethic of service to breed a new generation of volunteers, the partnership continues to expose young people to simple and fun ways they can proactively contribute to their community and eventually transform society.
The Boost Mobile headquarters, located in Orange County, California organized an employee donation drive and volunteer event during the 2005 holiday season in support of ChildShare, an organization that provides foster and adoptive homes for abused and neglected children in Orange County. Employees donated more than $300 in gift cards and provided volunteers to the organization's annual holiday party. Boost is committed to providing it's employees with opportunities to volunteer and giveback to the communities they work and live in.
Last summer, Boost Mobile donated more than $100,000 to support the off-season youth initiatives of eleven NBA players through the first annual Boost Mobile ‘Ahead of the Game' Summer Youth Basketball Project. The innovative 12-week program, held in conjunction with existing NBA players' foundation activities, was created by Boost Mobile to acknowledge the players' continued efforts to give back to their communities. Boost will continue the Ahead of the Game project this summer to acknowledge campers who best demonstrate the ability to communicate, inspire, challenge and lead. This unique partnership with NBA players is just one more way Boost is empowering youth in the community it serves.
Midnight Basketball League is a basketball program inspired by Demetrius "Hook" Mitchell. Hook is nationally known as west Oakland's playground legend, who changed his tragically triumphant life from drug addiction and criminal behavior to counselor, mentor and role model. Hook Mitchell now dedicates his life to making a difference in his community and across the nation as a youth advocate, public speaker, counselor, coach, mentor and living example for young people. In 2005, Boost partnered with Hook to bring Oakland's First Annual "Boost Your Game" Midnight Basketball League. "Boost Your Game" was more than a recreational basketball league; it gave participants the opportunity to learn skills and fundamentals that can be applied to everyday life throughout the five-week program. In 2006, the program will be expanding into additional markets.
Boost Mobile and Motorola joined forces in Fall 2005 to present the innovative "Game Behind The Game" forum during the VIBE Game Club Tour at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The nine-week program, hosted by radio personality and HBCU alumni Steph Lova, featured some of the industry's brightest stars who shared real-life experiences and secrets of success with aspiring HBCU students. A diverse mix of industry insiders represented the wide range of opportunities within video game and entertainment-related career fields. Boost will continue the program in Fall 2006.
Boost Mobile supports organizations both at the local and national level, and involves activities including: in-kind donations of phones and service, direct financial support and employee volunteerism. Charitable areas of focus include support for education, life experiences, health and other programs that help young people boost their lives. Boost will consider requests for support of community events from eligible organizations that integrate or promote our unique brand and service. For more information and an online application visit www.boostmobile.com or e-mail communityrelations@boostmobile.com