U.S. Cellular Partners With Children First of Buncombe County

Pictured holding check, from left to Right: Jack Brundige, director of sales for U.S. Cellular, Mayor Terry Bellamy, and Allison Jordan, Executive Director of Children First along with some of the kids from the Pisgah View homework club. Photo courtesy of Jim Husher.

U.S. Cellular announced a $3,500 donation to Children First of Buncombe County to assist with its Project MARCH (Make a Right CHoice) homework club. Project MARCH connects schools, parents, volunteers and teachers to serve elementary school-aged children living in Pisgah View, Deaverview, and Woodridge apartments with homework assistance, healthy snacks and summer enrichment programs. U.S. Cellular associates have committed volunteers for the homework clubs and began today by providing students with a behind the scenes look at how a wireless system works.

U.S. Cellular brought
a COLT (Cell On Light Truck) to the Pisgah View Homework Club to show
the students how a wireless system works. A COLT is a portable,
self-contained cell site that is housed in a semi-tractor with a
retractable pole. They typically stand between 50 to 75 feet tall, and
provide service to wireless users within a three-mile radius. COLT
towers are most commonly used at special events such as concerts, fairs
and festivals where heavy cell phone traffic is expected. COLT’s are
also used in remote areas or in emergency situations such as forest
fires or any type of natural disaster where existing cell service may
be temporarily down.

“U.S. Cellular is proud to provide exciting new learning opportunities
and expose them to careers such as engineering,” said Jack Brundige,
director of sales for U.S. Cellular in western North Carolina. This
donation has been given through U.S. Cellular’s Diversity and Inclusion
Council, which is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion by
active involvement in our communities through volunteerism, recruiting
diverse talent, and being ambassadors of the company’s Dynamic
Organization business model.

The homework clubs are provided free of charge and serve approximately
20 low-income children at each location. The clubs are unique in that
staff members work in the local elementary school during the day and
with the children in the afternoon. This allows for more comprehensive
support for the children’s academic success. In addition, Children
First offers summer enrichment programs to some of these same children.

“This generous gift and partnership with U.S. Cellular will allow
Children First to continue playing a vital role in helping young people
in our community,” said Allison Jordan, executive director of Children
First. “We are grateful to U.S. Cellular for the generous donation and
the volunteer commitment of associates to work with our children.”

U.S. Cellular is the nation’s sixth-largest wireless service carrier,
providing wireless service to six million customers in 26 states. The
Chicago-based company employs 8,000 associates and operates on a
customer satisfaction strategy, meeting customer needs by providing a
comprehensive range of wireless products and services, superior
customer support, and a high-quality network.