Temperatures are high but Cricket Nation’s drive to inspire smiles is even higher. This quarter’s community round up features our Field Marketing team and Authorized Retailers going above and beyond to commemorate heritage, serving our communities, and connecting with youth.

BGCA Events
We take pride in the seeds we are sowing with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. As we round off our fifth year of investing in tomorrow’s leaders, today helping with college and workforce readiness are at the forefront of our mission. In Minneapolis Authorized Retailer Sam’s Satellite and Electronics welcomed members from three Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities clubs to three retail locations for career development round table discussions.



For a consecutive year, Cricket and Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley (BGCSV) came together to recognize graduating club members. Thanks to Authorized Retailer SunCom Mobile for gifting each graduate with a Cricket Magic 5G plus one month of service, goodie bags with accessories, and a $250 gift card. The 15 graduating seniors served in programs such as Leaders in Training, Future Grads, and Youth of the Year.



In Atlanta, we hosted our first College 101 panel discussion of the year featuring two Cricket HBCU Campus Ambassadors at the Joseph B. Whitehead Club. The Atlanta University students shared their journeys of embarking on their collegiate careers out-of-state with 55 members. They answered questions about networking, securing scholarships, and the responsibilities that come with going away to college.



While school is out in June, there’s still opportunities to connect what is taught in the classroom to real life. For the first time we hosted 25 teens from Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs and Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta at Cricket Headquarters for an interactive lunch and learn. The jam-packed day included an employee panel discussion, lunch with two Cricket HBCU Campus Ambassador alumnae, followed by a retail store visit. They learned about the different elements of Cricket’s business structure and developmental tips.



Celebrating Heritage
#CricketNation mirrors the melting pot of so many cultures across the U.S. We continue to build meaningful connections by celebrating the various heritages of the communities we serve.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. #CricketNation in California highlighted this diverse community in several ways. Considering the ever-growing international student population in the greater Los Angeles area, Authorized Retailer JC American connected with the Chinese Student and Scholars Association (CSSA) to help them stress less during the school year. We invited 25 students to a local retail store to learn how they can communicate with their loved ones overseas as well as their new friends here via technology grants to help them advance their goals.


In Northern California, #CricketNation together with OCA East Bay hosted a beautification project restoring a restaurant impacted by vandalism. Authorized Retailer JC American mobilized a team to restore the pride of the family-run business in Oakland’s Chinatown. In addition, Cricket gave away confidence boosting books to 68 students of the Lake Merritt Childcare Center.

Military Appreciation
May is also Military Appreciation Month! Cricket was present at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Alaska for an appreciation picnic. Up to 5K attendees showed up to thank military members and their loved ones for their sacrifices. Authorized Retailer Wireless Revolution offered free face painting and giveaways. To our #CricketNation veterans, reserve, and those currently serving, thank you for your service!
 

 

Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a federal holiday remembering African Americans who learned about their freedom in Galveston, TX two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation (source). Down south, Cricket participated in over 16 Juneteenth celebrations! Authorized Retailers Sun Com, A-Z Wireless, Best Wireless, Crown Wireless, Xcell (Sukar and Sons), MobileLink, and Sky Wireless inspired smiles at Juneteenth festivals with giveaways.




In the Community
The newest Cricket Authorized Retail store in Phoenix is painting the block green! With our Market Director on the grill, Cricket hosted a BBQ in collaboration with Authorized Retailer Sun Com. 200+ neighbors got to know #CricketNation at the opening. They earned prizes, discounts, and of course savory food.


In the big apple, due to our continued collaboration with the Bronx Borough President’s Office, we sponsored Bronx Week in May. Authorized Retailer Budget Wireless was onsite engaging with our neighbors at numerous events like the Veterans Appreciation luncheon, community baby shower, and Bronx Ball. In June, Cricket Wireless was awarded a Citation of Merit at the Orchard Beach Fireworks Extravaganza! 


In Ohio, Authorized Retailer Wireless Choices of Dayton continues to lend a helping hand to 5K+ people to date through hygiene kits, meal distribution, and device raffles. Helping people of all ages is something to smile about!


This round up is just a fraction of all of the ways #CricketNation lives up to our purpose of creating meaningful connections. Follow Cricket on social media to stay up to date with how we are helping others stress less and smile more!