Ian Egan 
Providing 700 devices and free service to students affected by Hurricane Maria 
As part of its continued commitment to education, Sprint has devised a savings program for the entire education community. According to Heidi White, Marketing Manager of the Sprint WorksSM Program, “The Sprint WorksSM Program was created to extend savings and special offers to employees and students of the schools, universities and organizations who team up with us. This includes educators, administrators, and school staff! We recognize the inspired work that educators do every day. This extends past the teachers – everyone in the school building has a hand in creating a great education for our children. Bridging the digital divide is one of the greatest challenges facing our students. Sprint can help students and educators nationwide, and this program is a perfect companion to our Sprint 1Million Project.”
Sprint to Provide More than 700 Devices and Wireless Service to OCPS Students Affected by Hurricane Maria
Sprint is helping more than 700 high school students from Puerto Rico who were displaced after Hurricane Maria and are now enrolled in Orange County Public Schools. Through Sprint’s 1Million Project, the students will receive free wireless devices and free service to complete online homework, tests and other assignments. Students began receiving devices at an event on Saturday, February 10 at Lake Nona High School in Orlando.
“Starting over in a new place and a new school would be a huge challenge for any student,” said Scott Howat, President of the Foundation for OCPS. “But when you consider that many of these kids lost absolutely everything, we recognized there was an even greater need to help them get a fresh start. Because of Sprint’s 1Million Project we had an amazing opportunity to give them the tools and internet connectivity they will need to succeed in school.”
“Working with OCPS since we launched the 1Million Project with them last year has been such a positive experience. When the opportunity arose to expand the program, we jumped at the chance to help these very deserving students from Puerto Rico,” said Doug Michelman, president of Sprint’s 1Million Project. “The Sprint Foundation has been honored to coordinate with Sprint’s regional teams and community organizations across the hurricane-impacted region to do what we can to help families get back on their feet.”
70 percent of high school teachers assign homework to be completed online, yet more than 5 million families with kids do not have internet access at home. Sprint created the 1Million Project to help close this Homework Gap by providing 1 million free devices and wireless service to high school students who can’t complete their schoolwork at home because they lack internet access.
In addition to the devices for the Puerto Rican students, Sprint also provided 2,000 OCPS students with free devices and free wireless service during the 2017-2018 school year. Across the state of Florida more than 20,000 devices have been donated this year.
About the Sprint WorksSM Program
Sprint values the work teachers do every day and wants to pass along exclusive offers to the valued education community.
Thinking of joining Sprint? All you have to do is submit your work, school or organization email to see if you qualify for savings with the Sprint Works Program here. It’s quick and easy!
- Switch, save and share with Sprint Unlimited – the BEST Unlimited now with Hulu.
- The best price and the TV you love. Get next-day TV, original series, thousands of hit shows, movies and more.
- Unlimited data, talk, text and streaming in HD!
Further Reading
- LA Times – Deaths related to Hurricane Maria continued for months
- eCenter – 1Million Project Program Overview and Requirements
- BusinessWire – Sprint to Connect 180,000 Students During the 2017-18 School Year
