Cricket Wireless Announces 'Community Voices' Grant Program

CHICAGO, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all everyday heroes! Cricket, a leading provider of unlimited wireless services, is looking for all Chicagoans who want to make a difference in their communities. Today Cricket launched a grant program to give Chicago and surrounding area residents a voice in their communities and award them with the tools to make it happen. Details about the grant program are available at www.chicagocommunityvoices.com.

All Chicagoland-area residents – young and old – are encouraged to apply from now until November 5 with details on the positive change they wish to bring to their communities through the "Cricket Community Voices" program. An esteemed panel of renowned Chicagoans will judge the entries and select 10 winners four times a year to make their ideas come to life. The grants range up to $2,000 based on the need to activate the dream.

"The Chicagoland area is well known for its community activism, and we're excited to provide opportunities to residents to bring their great ideas to life through 'Cricket Community Voices,"' said Rene Parson, Area General Manager of Cricket Wireless, Midwest. "This program, along with Cricket's other community outreach efforts, give people the resources they need to make a positive impact in their communities."

Cricket has selected a group of veteran community leaders and activists to act as a panel to help decide which entries will receive grant funding. The panel is comprised of:

• John Pfeiffer – CEO and Executive Director of Inspiration Corporation
• Suzy Yehl Marta – CEO and founder of Rainbows for All Children
• Miss Lori – Frequent host on WTTW-PBS Chicago, blogger for Chicago Moms Blog and Miss Lori's Campus
• Marty Castro – president of Castro Synergies and chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission
• Rene Parson - Area General Manager, Cricket and co-chair of Cricket's Diversity Council

"This program resonated with me because so many Chicagoans have great ideas on how to make a positive difference," said "Cricket Community Voices" Panelist John Pfeiffer, Executive Director and CEO of Inspiration Corporation. "I'm excited to review the grant submissions and help people bring change to the communities they live in and love with a new set of resources at their fingertips."

Entrants must be Chicagoland area residents within the communities that Cricket serves. Applicants must detail a community service project and how they would use a Cricket grant if awarded. The plan should include clear objectives, the Chicagoland community it will serve, establish the community problem, show how the project will serve as a solution, the requested funding, and projected results. Winning grants will be announced in early 2011.

To enter, interested participants can visit a participating Cricket Wireless location, or enter online at www.chicagocommunityvoices.com. A list of participating stores can also be found on the website. To learn more about the Cricket community visit www.mycricket.com/community.

About Cricket

Cricket is the pioneer of simple and affordable unlimited wireless services with no long-term commitments or credit checks required serving more than 5.4 million customers in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Cricket offers wireless voice and broadband Internet services over the latest technology, high-quality, all-digital 3G CDMA2000 1X and 1xEV-DO wireless network. Cricket's wireless voice service plans include unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited U.S. long distance, unlimited text and picture messaging, unlimited text to Mexico, unlimited Mobile Web, unlimited directory assistance, as well as a variety of calling features and feature-rich mobile applications such as popular games, ringtones and wallpapers. Cricket Broadband provides unlimited Internet access anywhere within Cricket's coverage areas at speeds comparable to DSL. For more information on Cricket, visit www.mycricket.com. Cricket is offered by Leap Wireless International, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, Calif. For more information on Leap, visit www.leapwireless.com.

SOURCE Cricket