Congress Urged to Declare November as 'National Homeless Youth Awareness Month'

Congress Urged to Declare November as 'National Homeless Youth Awareness Month'

Multi-Platinum Singer/Songwriter Jewel to Testify Before House Ways & Means Subcommittee Hearing

Efforts Driven by Virgin Mobile USA for The RE*Generation Campaign

WASHINGTON, June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The House of Representatives is scheduled to hear testimony at a hearing today about the crisis of youth homelessness, disconnected youth, and youth aging out of foster care. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) have introduced S. Res. 226, a bi-partisan resolution declaring November as "National Homeless Youth Awareness Month." Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) and Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) are working to introduce a similar resolution in the House.

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The idea for a national month to build awareness of the critical issue of youth homelessness - which leads children as young as 11 years old into such horrible situations as human trafficking and drug use - was initiated for The RE*Generation, a campaign launched by Virgin Mobile USA and Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of the Virgin Group, to connect at-risk youth with young people who want to help and make a difference around the issue of homeless youth.

"A resolution and designated month will go a long way toward building awareness of the more than one million children and teens that are without homes and in crisis," said Dan Schulman, CEO of Virgin Mobile USA. "We trust November will serve as a call to action for Americans to learn more about this vital issue, as well as find ways to support the organizations working to help homeless youth in their own communities."

Jewel, who experienced homelessness as a teen in San Diego, Calif., will testify today as part of the hearing before the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support. This will be the first occasion that singer-songwriter Jewel will act in her new capacity as Ambassador for Virgin Unite, supporting its work on behalf of critical social and environmental issues around the world starting with youth homelessness in this country.

"I know first-hand what it's like to be young and without a roof over my head," said Jewel. "I'm blessed that my own story has had such a positive ending. But the same cannot be said for the over one million kids out there on the streets who are at risk and have no voice in society. I'm honored to join forces with those who are rallying to generate real awareness about this critical issue, and look toward solutions on both the national and community levels."

Together with charitable partners StandUp For Kids and YouthNoise, Virgin Mobile USA organized a national task force to advocate for Congressional recognition of November as "National Homeless Youth Awareness Month," with support from The Children's Health Fund, The National Alliance to End Homelessness, Virgin Unite and other like-minded organizations.

"Unfortunately, families are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population. We have to bring attention to the number of youth alone on the streets and work to ensure our children have a roof over their heads. Designating November 'National Homeless Youth Awareness Month' is an important first step to encourage local governments, businesses, community organizations and volunteers to work together to give at-risk youth a home," said Sen. Lautenberg.

Send Texts to Donate Clothing

Virgin Mobile contributes 5% of annual profits from downloadable content to The RE*Generation campaign, and offers several ways for people to donate and get involved in the issue. One initiative, TXT2CLOTHE, allows mobile phone users from any wireless carrier to text the word "KARMA" to number 68405, triggering one piece of donated clothing to be given to a homeless teen through StandUp For Kids programs nationwide, thanks to support from American Eagle Outfitters and Levi Strauss Signature.

An initial target of 68,405 items of clothing had been set, representing the estimated number of calls received by the National Runaway Switchboard in the top ten US cities in 2005. Over 85,000 texts have been received to date, and now a new goal of 112,007 pieces of clothing to be donated by 11-1-2007 is in place, commemorating the first day of "National Homeless Youth Awareness Month."

Visit www.virginmobileusa.com/regeneration for information on special events and outreach activities which will be planned throughout the country for November 2007.

About Virgin Mobile USA

The nation's leading wireless youth network, Virgin Mobile USA provides more than 4.8 million customers with control, flexibility and choice in wireless service, rich data content and innovative products without annual contracts. Voice pricing plans range from monthly options with unlimited nights and weekends to by-the-minute offers, allowing consumers to adjust how and what they pay according to their needs. Virgin Mobile's full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets, including the popular Switch_Back and Slice, are available at top retailers in more than 35,000 locations nationwide and online at www.virginmobileusa.com, with Top-Up cards available at more than 130,000 locations.

Virgin Mobile USA's national coverage is powered by the Nationwide Sprint PCS(R) Network, and the company, which launched in 2002, is a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Sprint Nextel. J.D. Power and Associates has ranked Virgin Mobile highest in customer satisfaction among wireless prepaid services, and its own customers report a 94% satisfaction rate. Virgin Mobile provides postage-paid return envelopes in every new package for customers to recycle old phones.

About The RE*Generation

Virgin Mobile USA, together with the Virgin Group's charitable arm, Virgin Unite, is helping a generation to help its own. The RE*Generation is a movement to connect at-risk youth - homeless, in poverty, without resources - with young people who want to help and make a difference through a partnership with innovative non-profits including YouthNoise, StandUp For Kids and Children's Health Fund.

About Virgin Unite

Launched in the UK in 2004, Virgin Unite is the independent charitable arm of the Virgin Group. Richard Branson and Virgin fully fund our operational costs, so that 100% of all donations received go directly to the frontline where it is needed the most. Virgin Unite was created by Richard Branson and Virgin Group employees around the world to harness Virgin's people, resources and energy to make a difference to forgotten people and overlooked issues. Virgin Unite takes an entrepreneurial approach to social and environmental issues, investing in innovative and sustainable programs. Virgin Unite was established in the US and Canada in 2006 and is also operational in the UK, South Africa and Australia. Virgin Unite works closely with Virgin Mobile USA and the other Virgin Group companies on "The RE*Generation" to support innovative non-profit partners. For more information, go to www.virginunite.com.

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Source: Virgin Mobile

CONTACT: Contact on Tuesday, June 19 - Thea Linscott, Mobile:
+1-516-322-4070; Jayne Wallace of Virgin Mobile USA, +1-908-607-4014,
jayne.wallace@virginmobileusa.com; Thea Linscott of CooperKatz & Co.,
+1-212-455-8045, tlinscott@cooperkatz.com; Darin Spurgeon of Virgin Unite,
+1-212-497-9086, darin.spurgeon@virginusa.com

Web site:

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/
http://www.virginunite.com/

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