Virgin America Donates Free Plane to Virgin Mobile 'FreeFest'

Virgin America Donates Free Plane to Virgin Mobile 'FreeFest'

Airline Whisks Do-Gooders Cross Country to Sold Out Festival

WARREN, N.J., and SAN FRANCISCO, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the domestic airline that is reinventing air travel, is teaming up with Virgin Mobile USA to take the Virgin Mobile FreeFest movement from coast to coast - literally. Fresh off the heels of Virgin Mobile USA's announcement that 35,000 Virgin Mobile FreeFest tickets were scooped up by fans, Virgin America announced today that it will donate use of an entire plane, dubbed the FreeFest Express, to bring more West Coast do-gooders from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. to attend the festival - for free. The companies are teaming up to give people another chance to earn their way to FreeFest by donating time to homeless youth organizations.

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"Virgin America is all about giving travelers more for less - even in today's climate," said Porter Gale, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America. "We couldn't be more pleased to partner with Virgin Mobile USA to give West Coast do-gooders the chance to fly for free - and in high style. We think FreeFest Express guests will have a musical and memorable trip en route to the festival event of the summer."

In keeping with the spirit of the festival and the Virgin brand, fans who donate their time to do volunteer work for Stand Up For Kids, a homeless youth outreach organization in Los Angeles and San Diego, will be eligible to win a free round trip flight on Virgin America's FreeFest Express from Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington D.C. (Dulles) on August 29-31, plus a two-night hotel stay and VIP tickets to the hottest concert of the summer. To find out how to volunteer and sign up for a chance to win a seat on the flight or to learn more visit: virginmobilefreefestival.com.

Virgin Mobile FreeFest will feature Weezer, Blink-182, Public Enemy, Franz Ferdinand and a dozen more acts on Sunday, August 30th at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md.

"Free rings - and rings loudly," said Ron Faris, Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Innovation, Virgin Mobile USA. "We're so happy to see our partners step up and offer fans from the West Coast an opportunity to take part in this momentous occasion."

Several other companies, led by Virgin Mobile FreeFest premier sponsor Kyocera, have also been inspired by the FreeFest Movement and are treating fans to some surprising and unusual "Freebies":

-- Kyocera is giving away assorted prizes, including free Kyocera cell
phones. A few lucky fans will also walk away with free lifetime cell
phone service from Virgin Mobile USA. The prizes will be awarded in
the festival's Kyocera Lucky Layoff Lounge, an area open to everyone
but offering special privileges to those who provide proof of
unemployment.
-- Megabus will donate use of a fleet of free WiFi buses, departing from
points in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Again, eligible fans can
volunteer their time to homelessness youth shelters for a chance to
earn tickets.
-- Converse will be giving away scores of free Chucks sneakers and
sunglasses at the festival. Converse will also host the Punk Your
Chucks Design Contest, in which fans who submit designs for Chucks
will be eligible to win free a year's worth (12 pairs) of free Chucks.
-- Sony Computer Entertainment America will be giving away free content
downloads from the PlayStation Network to anyone who brings their
PlayStation Portable system to FreeFest. Scores of PlayStation
Portable system entertainment bundles will also be given away to those
riding the FreeFest Express plane from LA and the Megabus Express as
well as fans in the Kyocera Lucky Layoff Lounge.
-- Gibson Guitars will be giving away free "Flying V" electric guitars to
lucky winners in the Kyocera Lucky Layoff Lounge.

-- Toyota, official vehicle sponsor of Virgin Mobile FreeFest, will offer
free Prius "test drives" for fans who choose to shuttle themselves
between stages at the event.

"Kyocera has been the Festival's premiere sponsor in each of its four years because Virgin Mobile consistently delivers incredible bands and performances without losing sight of things like the environment and social responsibility," said Tom Maguire, head of global marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. "We share Virgin Mobile's goal of using FreeFest to make a long-term difference in the community and lending a hand to those in need during these challenging times."

"What we consistently find is that there just aren't enough services available for homeless youth in the Los Angeles area," said Judy Ranan, Executive Director for Stand Up For Kids, Los Angeles. "We are all volunteers and we are simply trying to bridge that gap. The assistance from Virgin Mobile FreeFest couldn't come at a better time." Stand Up For Kids, Los Angeles provides outreach in the Venice Beach and Hollywood areas. On average, Stand Up For Kids volunteers provide about 100 kids per week in the LA area with food and hygiene packs referrals for youth shelters as well as mental health and drug rehabilitation services.

Virgin Mobile USA, the wireless company and creator of one of the largest and most critically acclaimed music festivals in the U.S., gave away 35,000 FreeFest tickets - in just minutes - so loyal fans could enjoy Virgin Mobile FreeFest. Last week, the company announced another way to get into the show: people who volunteer through "The Re*Generation Free I.P." program have a chance to score a VIP ticket. Virgin Mobile USA is also encouraging people, regardless of wireless carrier, to text "FREEFEST" to 20222, to make a $5 donation(1) which will go to select youth homeless centers through The RE*Generation program, Virgin Mobile USA's initiative to help homeless youth. More than two million young people will experience homelessness in the U.S. this year, much of it due to domestic violence, abuse or neglect.

Virgin America is the first airline to offer in-flight internet service on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the domestic skies via its touch-screen Red(TM) seatback system. Virgin America offers over 100 flights a day and flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston and Orange County. The airline offers daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, SFO to SEA, SEA to LAX, JFK to LAS, BOS to LAX, BOS to SFO and SFO to SNA. Virgin America has flown more than 4.5 million guests since its inaugural flights in August 2007 and now counts over 925,000 Elevate loyalty program members.

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S. controlled and operated airline and an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.

About Virgin Mobile USA: Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. (NYSE:VM), through its operating company Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., offers its millions of customers control, flexibility and choice through Virgin Mobile's Plans Without Annual Contracts, with coverage powered by the Nationwide Sprint Network. Virgin Mobile USA also offers unlimited all-in contract plans with advanced devices like the Ocean 2. More than 90% of its customers report satisfaction. Virgin Mobile USA service recently announced its Pink Slip Protection program*, which provides eligible monthly plan customers who lose their jobs and become eligible for state unemployment benefits free service for up to three months(2). Its full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets are available at approximately 40,000 top retailers nationwide and online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/, with Top-Up cards available at almost 150,000 locations.

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California and launched in August 2007, Virgin America is one of the fastest growing start-up U.S. airlines of all time and currently employs over 1400 people. Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport's ultra-modern International Terminal. The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat for electronic gear. Virgin America now offers in-flight internet service on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the domestic skies via its touch-screen Red(TM) seatback system. In addition to a 25-film library including Oscar winners, foreign language films and Hollywood blockbusters, Red features live TV, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, 3,000 MP3s, music videos, interactive Google maps and more. In just over a year flying, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure 2008 and 2009 World's Best Awards. For more: www.virginamerica.com

About Kyocera Communications Inc.: Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) is the sales, marketing, customer engineering and service headquarters for Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless products and accessories in the Americas. The company's devices are driving the convergence of telecommunications, broadband and multimedia. KCI was formed in April 2009 through the combination of Kyocera Wireless Corp. and Kyocera Sanyo Telecommunications Inc., two wholly owned subsidiaries of Kyocera International Inc. The former was created when Kyocera purchased QUALCOMM Incorporated's consumer wireless phone business in 2000, while the latter was formed when Kyocera purchased the wireless phone business of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. in 2008. Based in San Diego, KCI leverages Japan's history of creating advanced consumer technologies around humanism and respect for the environment and blending them with a Western entrepreneurialism and style, resulting in a unique design language and a natural, user-friendly interface. For more information, please visit www.kyocera-wireless.com. Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as "advanced ceramics"). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, office-document imaging equipment, solar power generating systems, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2009, the company's net sales totaled 1.13 trillion yen (approximately US $11.5 billion). Kyocera marks its 50th anniversary in 2009, and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked #418 on Forbes magazine's 2009 "Global 2000" listing of the world's largest publicly traded companies.

About I.M.P.: Formed in 1980, I.M.P. is a Bethesda, MD-based concert promoter and event production company. In addition to launching Virgin Mobile Festival in the U.S., the principals at I.M.P. own Washington, D.C.'s award-winning 9:30 Club,www.930.com, renowned as the premier place to see and hear cutting-edge live music of all varieties. I.M.P. also programs and operates Merriweather Post Pavilion,www.merriweathermusic.com, in Columbia, MD. Over the last 29 years, I.M.P. and the 9:30 Club have put on nearly 10,000 events, hosting millions of music fans.

About Stand Up For Kids:

The mission of Stand Up For Kids is to help homeless and street kids. This mission is to be carried out by a national volunteer force whose on-the-streets outreach efforts will find, stabilize, and assist homeless and street kids in their efforts to improve their lives. The organization's mission will also be furthered through deterrence and resource programs provided in school and via the internet. All facets of this mission will be guided by the mandate that our volunteers shall tell kids they care about them and then, at every turn, prove it. www.standupforkids.org.

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs more than 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

1. About Txt2Donate: Standard messaging rates apply to all messages sent
and received in connection with Txt2Donate. All charges will be applied
to individual's wireless carrier account. Donations are collected by
Virgin Unite by the Mobile Giving Foundation for the benefit of The
RE*Generation and are subject to the terms found at www.hmgf.org/t.
Virgin Unite will deduct $0.50 of the donation to cover administrative
costs and the rest will benefit The RE*Generation.

2. Subject to certain terms and conditions

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090202/NY65560LOGO-b
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Virgin America

CONTACT: Corinne Nosal of Virgin Mobile USA, +1-908-607-4235,
corinne.nosal@virginmobileusa.com; or Abby Lunardini of Virgin America,
+1-650-533-7576, Abby.lunardini@virginamerica.com; or Audrey Fix Schaefer of
Schaefer + Co. for I.M.P., +1-301-947-1133, Audrey@schaefer.com; or John Chier
of Kyocera Communications Inc., +1-858-882-3543, john.chier@kyocera.com; or
Judy Ranan of Stand Up for Kids Los Angeles, +1-310-291-3996,
judy3430@msn.com

Web Site: http://www.virginamerica.com/
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/
http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/

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