U.S. Cellular's $1 Million Giveaway, DonorsChoose.org Featured on Lifetime Television's 'Balancing Act'

CHICAGO, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Cellular is excited to announce that its $1 million Calling All Communities school-focused giving campaign will be featured on the popular morning show "The Balancing Act" on Lifetime Television. The program scheduled to air at 7 a.m. – 8 a.m. (EDT) on April 6 features the Calling All Communities campaign and an interview with Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org, a philanthropic Web site that connects individual donors and corporations with opportunities to fund classroom projects in public schools across the country.

Tuesday's episode takes a look at the funding needs of schools and how everyday citizens can become educational philanthropists. The segment also features the surprise celebration at B.F. Grady Elementary School in Goldsboro, N.C., one of the 10 schools to win $100,000 in U.S. Cellular's 2010 Calling All Communities campaign.

"I'm thrilled anytime we can shed light on the needs of public schools," Best said. "Many people are unaware that teachers frequently spend hundreds of dollars of their own money to provide basic classroom supplies for students. DonorsChoose.org empowers teachers to request the resources they need for their classroom, and invites individuals from across the country to help bring these projects to life."

U.S. Cellular made a commitment to invest $4.5 million in schools in 2009-2010. The company launched its second annual $1 million school giveaway in November, giving communities nationwide a chance to rally in support of their schools.  The nationwide contest awards $100,000 each to 10 schools based solely on their ability to garner the most community votes. The award has no strings attached and comes at a time when education budgets are being slashed across the country.

"We love supporting schools and are honored to be able to share the experience with Lifetime viewers," said Karen Ehlers, vice president of public affairs and communications for U.S. Cellular.  "At U.S. Cellular, we believe in the power of community. Our hope is others will watch this program, learn about DonorsChoose.org and realize how easy it is to help our schools succeed."

The company will partner with DonorsChoose this fall for its second annual Calling All Teachers campaign. Through this program, school teachers post requests for materials and the wireless company funds $1 million worth of projects. Last year, more than 1,700 teachers received support.

About U.S. Cellular

The 9,000 associates of U.S. Cellular believe a wireless phone enhances people's lives and a wireless company should be in the business of bringing people together. U.S. Cellular has a wide range of monthly plans, including those with unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited free incoming calls and options to prepay. The company has a growing catalog of phones like the BlackBerry® Tour and the touch-screen LG Tritan and HTC Touch Pro 2, which offer e-mail and Web access. Those features are delivered 10 times faster over U.S. Cellular's 3G Mobile Broadband network. U.S. Cellular believes in the power of the community and has made a commitment to invest more than $4.5 million in teachers and schools during 2009 and 2010. Based in Chicago, the company is the nation's sixth-largest wireless carrier, serving 6.2 million customers across the country. To learn more about the company visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com.  You can also check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit Web site where public school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can choose the projects they want to support. After completing a project, the donor hears back from the classroom they supported in the form of photographs and teacher thank-you letters. To date, 88,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $30.3 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn. Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 1.8 million students.

About The Balancing Act

The TV show airs on Lifetime Television at 7:00am (ET/PT) -- and is America's only morning show that's about women, for women, and trusted by women. Celebrating life and all there is to accomplish, The Balancing Act inspires and empowers with entertaining and educational segments, placing women in the best position to achieve success in every area of their lives. For additional information or to view a segment visit www.TheBalancingAct.com.

SOURCE U.S. Cellular