Date:July 29, 2002
Cricket
Communications Provides Free Service to KCS
The three-year commitment will also include periodic donations from Cricket to existing funds such as the Teacher’s Supply Depot, and offerings in an incentive package designed to help recruit qualified teachers to the county schools.
“Maintaining a high-quality education for all Knox County students is top priority for the dedicated men and women within the Knox County school system,” said Rocky Crossland, area general manager for Cricket. “Cricket’s proud involvement through this partnership will help free up funds and allow teachers to remain focused on their ultimate goals.”
In an effort to give the school system greater options in funding necessary wireless communications Cricket has created “The Principals of Cricket” program to put Cricket phones into the hands of all principals at no cost to them or the school system. In the upcoming school year, Cricket will provide principals of the 14 middle and 12 high schools in Knox County with a free Cricket phone and monthly service all at no charge. Principals will have a constant line of communication with their schools, and can continue to use the unlimited minutes Cricket service offers even after school hours at their leisure.
The following year Cricket will donate phones and service to 30 additional school principals in the county, and beginning in the 2004-2005 school year, Cricket will have provided every principal with Cricket wireless service. “The Principals of Cricket” program alone will provide the school system over $36,000 in wireless service over the next three years.
“Cricket’s involvement with the school system’s programs is much more than just phone and equipment donations,” said Dr. Charles Lindsey, Knox County School Superintendent. “Cricket has stepped up to the plate and become an ideal model for business partnerships. We are very excited about adding Cricket Communications to the many businesses with which we partner in order to provide a quality education to Knox County Students.”
In addition to providing free Cricket phones to all principals in the county, Cricket is also setting up free service for the six vision and hearing mobile units. These phones, complete with activation on Cricket service, will be given to the team members to enhance their ability to operate efficiently and help ensure that each school receives the proper services from each team.
To promote community and teacher awareness of the “Teacher Supply Depot,” Cricket will make a continuous effort to make donations to the cause. For the 2002-2003 school year, Cricket’s donation will include office equipment and furniture from their recent move into the new retail location. In addition, Cricket will continue to work with the Knox County schools to develop a communication link to the educators outlining the items available at the Depot and highlighting important information on how teachers can participate.
Looking to the future, Cricket is also offering a free wireless phone and three months of free service package to be included in Knox County’s “Teacher Incentive Program.” Each teacher receiving the package will receive a voucher for the phone and service that will be redeemable at any Cricket retail store.