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Sprint Continues to Support Youth with National School Grant ProgramFocused on Character Education

^{Published on 2008-11-18 06:38:57 - Market Wire}
 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced the 2009 entry dates for The Sprint Character Education Grant Program, its annual character-education grant program for schools across the country. The 2009 program will run from Feb. 2, 2009 through Feb. 27, 2009.

Through the Sprint Character Education Grant Program, the Sprint Foundation (Sprint's philanthropic arm) will award grants to school districts and individual schools to fund resources that facilitate and encourage character education among K-12 students. With a national reach, the program is open to all U.S. public schools (K-12) and U.S. public school districts.

The Sprint Character Education Grant Program will award individual school grants between $500 and $5,000 and school district grants between $10,000 and $25,000. In 2008, the Sprint Foundation awarded more than $600,000 in combined grants to schools and school districts through a similar program, Sprint Ahead for Education.

"Sprint, through the Sprint Foundation, is committed to helping educators develop the right character-education initiatives for their student population," said Ralph Reid, president of the Sprint Foundation. "The Sprint Character Education Grant Program allows teachers and administrators to implement programs that they know will work to encourage leadership, confidence and pride in their unique K-12 education setting."

The Sprint Character Education Grant Program will accept applications for character-education programs that promote youth leadership, youth volunteerism, school pride and a positive school culture.

For more information, a list of previous winners and the grant application please visit: [ www.sprint.com/educationgrants ].

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving nearly 51 million customers at the end of the third quarter 2008; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit [ www.sprint.com ].

About the Sprint Foundation

Since its establishment in 1989, the Sprint Foundation has provided nearly $100 million to community organizations across the country with a special emphasis on those supporting K-12 education, positive youth development, arts and culture outreach, school safety and Internet safety. Through direct grants and a robust matching-gifts program for employees and retirees, the Sprint Foundation creatively and thoughtfully delivers Sprint's commitment to championing the communities where Sprint customers and employees live.