Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Colorado, Colorado Uplift, and Local Resident Don Quick to Be Recognized

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 2009-- Sprint (NYSE:S) announced today the recipients of its 2009 Denver community-giving programs. The Sprint Local Grant Program will award two $25,000 Sprint Foundation grants to Denver-area programs that support Sprint’s focus area of youth-development. In addition, the Sprint Community Champions Program will honor one outstanding Denver-area resident who has made a positive impact on the Denver community with a $5,000 Sprint Foundation grant to a qualified non-profit of the honoree’s choice. The recipients will be recognized and honored at an upcoming celebration in the Denver area.

RECIPIENTS AND HONOREES:

• Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Colorado was selected as a 2009 Sprint Local Grant Program recipient and will receive a $25,000 Sprint Foundation grant for its Sports Buddies program. The Sports Buddies program is designed to give boys a better chance to succeed in and out of school by providing them with a mentor. The Sprint Foundation grant is being matched by a challenge grant from the Daniels Fund, and the two grants will allow Big Brothers & Big Sisters to operate the program at its full capacity of 330 youths through 2010.
• Colorado Uplift was selected as a 2009 Sprint Local Grant Program recipient and will receive a $25,000 grant. Colorado Uplift is a youth-service organization that teaches character, leadership and life skills to urban youth in Denver's inner city. Uplift provides in-school curriculum, after-school mentoring, outdoor/physical activities, and assistance with preparing and applying for post-secondary education. Students receive long-term, relational impact from fourth grade through college age to help them achieve success in life.
• Westminster resident Don Quick was selected as the 2009 Sprint Community Champion honoree, and the Sprint Foundation will be awarding a $5,000 grant to Don’s selected charitable organization, the Mapleton Education Foundation. Don is the district attorney for Adams and Broomfield Counties and has made it his mission to see that all kids reach their full potential. Don’s extensive work with the Mapleton Education Foundation, including sitting on the board, helps generate the support and funding needed to keep kids engaged and off the streets after school. Don is also a founding partner in the Adams County Youth Initiative (ACYI) which is a countywide partnership to keep kids in school and out of the justice system.

To learn more about the Sprint Local Grant Program or the Sprint Community Champion Program, please visit www.sprint.com/localgiving.

About Sprint

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 is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving almost 49 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2009; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The company’s customer-focused strategy has led to improved first call resolution and customer care satisfaction scores. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.

About the Sprint Foundation

Since its establishment in 1989, the Sprint Foundation has provided nearly $100 million to community organizations across the country with a special emphasis on those supporting K-12 education, positive youth development, arts and culture outreach, school safety and Internet safety. Through direct grants and a robust matching-gifts program for employees and retirees, the Sprint Foundation creatively and thoughtfully delivers Sprint’s commitment to championing the communities where Sprint customers and employees live.

Source: Sprint

Sprint
Dave Mellin, 303-498-0078
Dave.Mellin@sprint.com