Wireless Zone Announces $40,000 in Grant Recipients, Backpack Giveaway and More!

While schools, restaurants and shops closed their doors this past year, the Wireless Zone – Verizon Premium Retailers – in Groton, New London, Glastonbury, North Windham, Killingly, Putnam and Westerly were not only fortunate enough to remain open as an essential business, but were able to generously give back to their community as well. With over $40,000 being donated to local nonprofit organizations and anticipating the 5th Annual Backpack Giveaway scheduled for August 1st 2021, the locally owned and family operated Wireless Zone teams have been philanthropically busier than ever in their communities.

Wireless Zone stores invited local families to their locations on Sunday, August 1, between 1-4 p.m. to pick up a backpack filled with school supplies. One backpack per child, must be present, while supplies lasted. Each store location did adhere to local and CDC guidelines to provide a safe environment for event attendees and store employees.

Not only was each backpack be filled with school supplies, each child was entered to win one of five $10,000 scholarships. Last year, over two thousand backpacks were distributed and Wireless Zone intends to exceed that goal this summer.

“The start of the school year is an exciting time, and we are thrilled to support the education of the youth in our communities through our Backpack Giveaway.” said Scott Gladstone. “By providing families with essential school supplies, we’re easing the back-to-school shopping burden and helping set students up for success.”

In addition, Wireless Zone also nominated multiple nonprofit organizations in the Eastern Connecticut and Southern Rhode Island communities to receive grants from the Wireless Zone Foundation in 2021. A grand total of $40,000 will be donated to these neighboring organizations.

The charities receiving grants in Rhode Island are: Frank Olean Center, Jonnycake Center of Westerly, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island and Operation Stand Down Rhode Island.

The charities receiving grants in Connecticut are: Camp Horizons, End Hunger Connecticut, Girls on the Run International (Greater Hartford), New England Science & Sailing Foundation, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Inc., Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, TEEG and Waterford Country School.

Each year, local Franchise owners, Scott Gladstone and Neil Ryan elect several charities in their community that display extraordinary dedication to serve their respective organizations and fulfill their unique mission statements. This year, twenty of these grant requests were honored. “We’re lucky. Why not pass some of that good fortune onto those who need it most?” says Ryan.

The Foundation supports both local and national nonprofit organizations, providing a basic structure for the company’s collaborative giving program and enhancing the individual stores’ ability to give back to their local community. The grant funds will assist awarded organizations with initiatives to both expand upon current programs and implement new ones.

About Wireless Zone

Founded in 1988 as “The Car Phone Store”, the Wireless Zone® system has become the nation’s largest wireless retail franchisor, was ranked the No. 1 franchise in its category by Entrepreneur magazine and #118 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 in 2021. Each of the over 400 stores are independently owned and operated, exclusively offering Verizon Wireless products and services. The Wireless Zone® system has been honored with Verizon’s “Best Customer Service” award for five consecutive years and is franchised and operated by Wireless Zone LLC. For more information, visit www.wirelesszone.com.