Calling All Communities campaign to benefit schools

At a time when budget problems are forcing some schools to cut academic and extracurricular activities, U.S. Cellular is launching its 2010 Calling All Communities campaign.

People can vote for the school they want to receive $100,000 from U.S. Cellular. Winning schools can spend the money as they wish. Voting is open to anyone 18 and over from Nov. 13 to Jan. 15. There will be a total of 10 winning schools, receiving a combined $1 million.

Last year more than 800 Wisconsin schools received votes, including schools in Sheboygan Falls. This is a way for communities to band together to support local schools. Any public or private school is eligible, regardless of size.

The result?

“Last summer was like Christmas around here with new textbooks, furniture and electrical upgrades,” said Joan Bond, principal of one of last year’s winners, Assumption High School in Wisconsin Rapids. “We also created a scholarship in (U.S. Cellular CEO) Jack Rooney’s name to remind us each year how fortunate we were to win. This award will have lasting impacts on our school.”

Seven of ten 2009 Calling All Communities champions included towns with fewer than 20,000 residents. Humphrey St. Francis (Humphrey, Neb.) was the ultimate underdog. The rural community had a population of 790 and a K-12 enrollment of 220.

“If a town the size of Humphrey can produce a winning school, any community, large or small, has a chance,” said Darron Arlt, principal of Humphrey St. Francis. “We were able to win last year by simply asking for support from our family, alumni, friends and neighbors.”

“We did not think we could win because we are a small rural community in North Carolina,” added Wendy Hooks, principal at Brogden Primary School in Dudley, N.C., whose winning school is featured in U.S. Cellular’s national advertising campaign. “What we lacked in financial support, we more than made up for in spirit and hope.”

Once again, U.S. Cellular is rallying communities to believe in something better for schools in its 2010 Calling All Communities campaign. From Nov. 13, 2009, through Jan. 15, 2010, anyone 18 years or older can go to any U.S. Cellular store to get a code to vote online for their favorite school giving them a chance to be a $100,000 winner. There is no purchase necessary and you don’t have to be a U.S. Cellular customer to vote.

Previous champions offered these 10 tips to build momentum in your community: • Form committees to generate support. • Post information on school Web sites and newsletters to encourage voting.

• Engage athletic teams, school bands and student groups to help spread the word by handing out flyers.

• Ask local businesses to share flyers with their customers and hang Calling All Communities posters. One pizza parlor last year attached campaign flyers to pizza boxes.

• Use social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to talk about the campaign. • Encourage alumni to show their support by voting and getting out the vote. • Collaborate with parent and teacher organizations. • Ask local police and fire departments to help spread the word.

• Seek voter support at shopping malls, community gathering places, school events, etc.

• Encourage your community to track your school’s standing on U.S. Cellular’s Calling All Communities Web site (uscellular.com/ callingallcommunities) to keep the momentum rolling.