generationOn and U.S. Cellular Recognize Inspiring Youth Across the Country

NEW YORK, November 29, 2016 /3BL Media/ - generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, has collaborated with U.S. Cellular for its 2016 The Future of Good program, which was announced today. The program champions and invests in caring, compassionate and capable youth who make a positive impact in their communities. generationOn, which has a history of recognizing outstanding youth for their accomplishments, led a nationwide search to help U.S. Cellular select six children representing four different causes.

“generationOn is thrilled to honor these incredible young people for their achievements,” said Delores Morton, executive director of generationOn. “These changemakers work tirelessly to improve their communities and the world, and we are thrilled that U.S. Cellular has chosen to recognize them as The Future of Good.”

U.S. Cellular will celebrate these young humanitarians by giving them a voice to amplify the good they’ve done and a generous donation to help each continue building The Future of Good. The wireless carrier will feature the causes in four documentary-style videos to tell the unique stories of how each cause is improving the community it serves. In support of Giving Tuesday, U.S. Cellular will help celebrate and support young humanitarians by pledging a combined total of $45,000 consisting of in-kind and monetary contributions to inspiring youth-led causes across the country.

“We’re honored to be working with generationOn again this year to help honor and celebrate these exceptional youths,” said Grant Leech, vice president of brand management at U.S. Cellular. “These extraordinary young people  inspire so many others, and we take tremendous pride in supporting them and helping amplify the good work that they’re doing.”

To further celebrate the youths and the four chosen causes of the program, U.S. Cellular will bring the children and their families to New York City on Dec. 22, 2016, where they will ring the closing bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange and bring widespread attention to their local efforts. The four inspiring causes that this year’s program will highlight are:

Jason Albaum (age 15), Colby Ellis (age 16), and Juli Ennis (age 16) in Kennebunk, Maine – Project Playback: These three teens bring joy to and awaken the minds of elderly Alzheimer’s and dementia patients through music therapy, by interviewing patients and family members and creating personalized playlists on donated MP3 players for the patients.  Their organization, Project Playback, has volunteered hundreds of hours to combine modern digital technology with traditional direct social interaction, to improve the mental, emotional, and overall well-being of their patients. For more information, visit https://www.projectplayback.org.

Ryan Graham (age 17) in Milwaukee, Wis. – Teens Grow Greens: Ryan is a leading teen and board member of Teens Grow Greens, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that teaches kids personal responsibility, healthy living, leadership and entrepreneurship. Under Ryan’s guidance, kids learn how to grow, cook and eat healthy food. This year Ryan recruited, interviewed and hired 12 teenagers to join the nine-month paid internship program. For more information, visit www.teensgrowgreens.org.

Raegan Junge (age 11) in Keystone, Iowa – Raegan’s Tornado Relief Project: Raegan started her nonprofit organization when she was just six years old to help raise funds to provide disaster victims and affected communities with clothing and personal items by selling handmade beaded bracelets. After a tornado recently touched down in nearby Benton, Iowa, Raegan worked with the Benton County 4-H Fair Board members to help gather supplies for 48 families affected. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/raeganstornadoreliefeffort.

Lia Haile (age 13) in Manitowoc, Wis. – Hopeful Hearts Club: Lia created her organization, which consists of a community of hundreds of people, to provide welcome bags, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and other events and goods for children who are staying at Hope House, the local homeless shelter in her community. Lia is involved with U.S. Cellular’s Future of Good program for the second year in a row, having last year received $10,000 from the company to Hope House on her behalf. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/HopefulHeartsClub.   

Kids and teens inspired by these youths and their causes can visit generationOn.org to find project ideas, tools and resources to become changemakers in their communities. Also, from Nov. 29 through Dec. 31, parents and legal guardians are encouraged to visit thefutureofgood.com to nominate youths in their own communities who are making an impact. Four additional young humanitarians will be chosen in accordance with the rules and  announced on Jan. 18 and awarded $2,000 each to be put toward their social cause.

For more information, please visit thefutureofgood.com or follow the social conversation by using the hashtag #TheFutureofGood.

About GenerationOn
generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, provides programs and resources that support the development of caring, compassionate and capable kids and teens through service, empowering them to become changemakers in their communities and the world. For more information, visit www.generationon.org.

About Points of Light
Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities across more than 30 countries and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier offers coverage where the other carriers don't and a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. U.S. Cellular has the Highest Wireless Network Quality Performance in the North Central Region, according to the J.D. Power 2016 U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Study, and 99 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.