BE NET SAFE!
Boys & Girls Clubs of America Partners with Sprint to Encourage Internet
Safety
4NetSafetySM program provides tips everyone can use.
ATLANTA -- Sept. 24,
2009 -- In a year’s time, approximately one in three teens experience
online harassment and 32 percent of teens clear their browser history to
hide what they do online from their parents. To answer the growing
issues surrounding Internet safety, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA)
announces a new partnership with Sprint to promote online safety
resources for kids, teens and parents.
Sprint’s 4NetSafetySM program aims to open the lines of
communication about Internet safety between young people and the adults
who care for them. The online resource offers free tools from experts
that address the perils that young people commonly encounter online and
encourage positive dialogue about Internet safety. BGCA will make these
educational tools available to its 4.5 million youth served through
membership and community outreach. In addition, Sprint has provided
funding to BGCA to create additional Internet Safety materials for them
to use in the Clubs to educate both youth and parents.
“The Internet can be a wonderful resource for kids, but it has always
been our goal to teach our youth how to navigate the Web safely and
appropriately,” said Dan Rauzi, senior director of technology services
and programs at BGCA. “Sprint and BGCA teamed up to raise awareness
about a prime concern of ours – the importance of a healthy and safe
virtual life for America’s youth.”
Some startling statistics about how parents supervise their children’s
online time were revealed in a BGCA survey of young people. More than
half of those surveyed said their parents never ask them about whom they
are talking to on the Internet and 55 percent said their parents never
surfed the Internet with them. Through its collaboration with Sprint,
BGCA will bring attention to the interactive, age-appropriate safety
resources available to assist parents in protecting their children
against online dangers.
”Sprint is pleased to be entering into this partnership with Boys &
Girls Clubs of America,” said Debby Ballard, director of community
affairs-Sprint. “Internet safety is an area that is very important to
Sprint, as evidenced by our 4NetSafety program, and our partnership with
BGCA allows us to add to and raise additional awareness about these
valuable resources.”
Boys & Girls Clubs and Sprint will host five safety fairs across the
country in hopes of teaching parents, youth and community leaders simple
precautions to help children have a safer online experience. From
cyberbullying to texting inappropriate images to cheating with
technology, BGCA and Sprint will address the various issues that affect
today’s youth.
Sprint funds its 4NetSafety program through Sprint Project Connect, a
wireless recycling program. For information on how to recycle your
previously used wireless device, see the 4NetSafety website.
For more information or to access tips and resources visit
www.bgca.org or
www.4netsafety.com.
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ABOUT SPRINT NEXTEL
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 BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org)
has helped kids "Be Great," providing hope and opportunity for those who
need it most. Today, more than 4,300 Clubs serve some 4.5 million young
people through Club membership and community outreach. Known as The
Positive Place for Kids, Boys & Girls Clubs can be found throughout the
country and on U.S. military bases worldwide, providing young people
6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs
conducted by trained, professional staff. Clubs positively impact lives
and help young people reach their full potential as productive, caring
citizens. Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and
career exploration; community service; technology training; financial
literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and
recreation; and family outreach. In a recent Harris Survey of Club
alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National
headquarters are located in Atlanta.
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