Partnership will provide refugees in the US with 1000 months of Ultra Mobile service in order to access information, resources and community.
COSTA MESA, Calif., April 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultra Mobile, the nationwide carrier focused on democratizing international communication, today announces a partnership with Ads-Up, a not-for-profit charity that supports refugees being resettled in America. This partnership will provide 1000 months of Ultra Mobile service to refugees in need, giving them access to the information, resources, and communities required to establish and maintain long-term independence.
Ultra is acutely aware of the important role that mobile service plays in keeping people connected; this is heightened when those people are in another country. For refugees being resettled in the US, mobile service becomes even more critical.
"Connection is something many of us take for granted," says Ultra Mobile SVP of Sales, Erin Anderson. "We learned that many refugees use the very limited cash they have to purchase a SIM card when they first arrive to let their families know they are safe. Beyond that momentous call, mobile service allows them to communicate with potential employers, see maps of their new neighborhood, find information and communicate with friends and family, not to mention access support from groups such as Ads-Up. For most, their phone is their single source of internet, so ensuring they have unlimited data is important."
Founded in 2011 with a mission to serve the foreign born community, and to help democratize international communication, Ultra Mobile is in a unique position to help these refugees coming from countries including Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The mobile service provided will give refugees unlimited nationwide talk and text, unlimited calling to more than 80 destinations and Call Anywhere credit to over 200 destinations and unlimited 4G LTE data, ensuring connection to local communities and information as well as family around the world.
Ads-Up is a network of more than 300 volunteers working to help the 1,250 refugees currently being resettled under the US-Australia refugee deal. They are learning firsthand the challenges that these refugees need to overcome.
These men, women and over 150 children are political refugees who cannot go back to their home country. Though the US offers them a safe haven, it is incredibly intimidating when they first arrive. They are in a new place with new people and need to set up new lives for themselves.
"Working with these refugees we quickly realized that a mobile phone can be a lifeline," says Ads-Up Co-Founder Fleur Wood. "Most do not have home internet, so their phone is their only access to education, medical information, as well as to an online community that can provide a much needed sense of belonging. Until they have found stable employment, it is very difficult for refugees to afford the ongoing expense of mobile service, yet without it they lose connection to support, potential employers and resources. Our partnership with Ultra Mobile functions as an investment into their future."
As part of this partnership, Ultra Mobile will also be a sponsor of the inaugural Ads-Up Gala Auction, taking place on April 25 in New York City, to honor, fundraise and rally additional assistance for these refugees. "Ultra is privileged to work with Ads-Up and help refugees get a fresh-start," says Anderson.
To learn more about Ultra Mobile and Ads-Up, please visit www.ultramobile.com and www.ads-up.org
About Ultra Mobile:
Founded in 2011, Ultra Mobile is a nationwide prepaid mobile carrier with a mission to democratize wireless by making international calling more affordable and accessible. Serving the millions of people in the United States with extended families, friends and colleagues living around the world, its international services reach over 200 destinations. In 2015, Ultra Mobile was ranked #1 on the Inc. 500 as the fastest-growing private company in the United States and had activated more than one million users onto its platform. Ultra Mobile is headquartered in Southern California and has a growing team of more than 150 employees. The company supports its customers in English, Mandarin, and Spanish. For more information, visit: www.ultramobile.com.
About Ads-Up:
Ads-Up is a group of Australians in the USA working to support refugees being resettled in America under the US-Australia refugee deal. The organization exists as a network of social support and financial assistance for refugees of the Manus and Nauru Islands. With over 300 Australian supporters in the United States, Ads-Up is able to help hundreds of refugees who are starting new lives in a new country. For more information, visit: www.ads-up.org.
SOURCE Ultra Mobile
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