Boys & Girls Clubs of America And Sprint Launch Interactive Campaign For Internet Safety Month

ATLANTA, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In many ways, today's youth are more knowledgeable and savvy than adults when it comes to the Internet and technology. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and Sprint (NYSE:S) have launched an interactive campaign aimed to raise cyber safety awareness among parents and guardians. With 95 percent of all teens online and 80 percent users of social media sites, it is more important than ever to understand the potential risks that come along with navigating an expansive online world.

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The campaign, "Cyber Safe Futures," will span June's Internet Safety Month and focus on key issues including cyberbullying, social networking, online privacy and mobile safety. Additionally, the campaign features youth educating parents on potential cyber dangers. Teens highlight important issues through media safety statistics, like: five million social media users are under the age of 10; 51 percent of teens have given out personal information online to someone they don't know; and 33 percent of teens have been victims of cyberbullying.*    

Along with providing key resources on media safety topics, the campaign will point parents and youth to BGCA's new website, CyberSafeFutures.org where they can watch videos, participate in real-time surveys and join discussions around relevant news stories. Parents can additionally see what kids are saying about media safety, with live poll results from myclubmylife.com, BGCA's website for teens. BGCA is also using Facebook to fuel the conversation during Internet Safety Month, providing an avenue for parents to talk about important safety topics that could potentially impact their children's lives.  

"We know that parents are concerned with online behavior; however, they may not be fully aware of the potential risks that their children may face or may not know how to have a discussion with their kids on tough topics," said Dan Rauzi, senior director of technology programs at BGCA. "Our relationship with Sprint allows us to provide the tools and resources needed to educate parents and kids so that the online experience is positive, fun and allows for a cyber safe future."

"Cyber Safe Futures" is part of BGCA's larger media safety initiative with Sprint. Through the relationship, BGCA provides tips and resources to Boys & Girls Club youth, staff and parents to have an open dialogue with their kids on these critical cyber safety topics.

"At Sprint, doing the right thing for the right reason is at the heart of everything we do," said Debby Ballard, director of Community Affairs. "We have worked for many years to see that children and the adults in their lives have easy, convenient access to the information they need to stay safer online. We are pleased to team up with Boys & Girls Clubs to spread these tools even further with Cyber Safe Futures."

To join the conversation and learn more about how BGCA and Sprint are raising awareness around media safety, visit CyberSafeFutures.org, and see what parents are saying by visiting BGCA on Facebook. Additional Sprint Internet-safety resources can be found at www.4NetSafety.com.

*All media safety statistics can be found at CyberSafeFutures.org

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, nearly 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve some 4 million children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native American lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. Clubs provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at bgca.org/facebook and bgca.org/twitter.

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 served more than 56 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers and most improved in customer satisfaction across all industries during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Related Links:
CyberSafeFutures.org

SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America