PRESS RELEASE: “2012 Virgin Mobile FreeFest Presented by LG Sets a Record: “Frees” Out in 2 Minutes Flat: Virgin Mobile USA Announces Return of Award-Winning “FREE I.P.” Program — Lets FreeFest Fans Earn Tickets by Volunteering to Help Homeless Youth
WARREN, N.J. — Aug. 28, 2012 — Tickets for the Virgin Mobile FreeFest presented by LG “free’d-out” last week in record time — just two minutes. However, Virgin Mobile USA, creator of one of the largest and most critically acclaimed music festivals in the country, today announced that music fans can again volunteer their time at homeless youth shelters to earn tickets to FreeFest through The RE*Generation, Virgin Mobile’s charitable initiative focused on ending youth homelessness.
The 2012 Virgin Mobile FreeFest presented by LG will take place Saturday, Oct. 6, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. Scheduled to appear are Jack White, Skrillex, M83, ZZ Top, NAS, Santigold, Alabama Shakes, and a dozen more.
As a result of the last three FreeFests, through Virgin’s FREE I.P. program, 75,000 volunteer hours and more than half a million dollars have been donated by music fans. In fact, last year enough money was raised to enable the opening this fall of “The RE*Generation House by Virgin Mobile,” a homeless youth shelter developed by Sasha Bruce Youthwork in Washington, D.C. Proceeds from the upcoming FreeFest will support staffing and programs for social entrepreneurship and urban agriculture at The RE*Gen House and other Sasha Bruce sites in Washington.
Now through Sept. 28 The RE*Generation’s “Free I.P.” program will allow fans to volunteer several hours of time at approved homeless shelters in Maryland, Virginia and Washington in exchange for a ticket to this all-day free festival. This offer is good while ticket supplies last. Interested volunteers can sign up to help at www.virginmobilefreeip.com.
People can do something good and get something good by:
• volunteering to help feed homeless youth and families by putting together bag lunches and snack baskets
• brightening up youth homeless shelters by painting and gardening
• donating needed items like hygiene kits, backpacks and school supplies.
Fans can also purchase a FreeFest FREEMIUM Package, which includes a general admission ticket to the festival with a portion of these proceeds also going to youth homelessness. FREEMIUM tickets can be purchased on ticketfly.com, at Merriweather Post Pavilion or at the 9:30 Club box office in Washington.
“The spirit of FreeFest has always been about giving back, both as a business and to music fans,” said Felicia Hill, manager of brand engagement and cause marketing, Virgin Mobile USA. “We’re thrilled to be working with Sasha Bruce on opening The RE*Generation House this fall. It’s an absolute dream come true for us. Homeless youth is still an overlooked issue that continues to need our support. We’ve been dedicated to transforming the lives of these young people and getting more people to take action to help the cause since we launched The RE*Generation in 2006.”
“The wonderful support of Virgin Mobile USA and LG for The RE*Gen House project could not come at a better time,” said Deborah Shore, executive director of Sasha Bruce Youthworks. “The continuing recession has hit the lives of homeless youth especially hard and while the needs have increased, the resources have lagged. Virgin Mobile deserves great kudos for joining with Sasha Bruce and LG to increase housing for homeless youth, stimulate social entrepreneurship opportunities and advance public awareness of this critical issue even while times are difficult. Our partnership is a great model for an approach that can serve to lift an entire community.”
“There are lots of music festivals across the country, but this one has a heart and soul centered on giving back — which is why we’re proud to sponsor FreeFest,” said James Fishler, senior vice president of marketing and go-to-market operations for LG Electronics USA. “We are delighted to help make The RE*Gen House a reality by providing appliances and electronics for use by those who need these services.” LG will be designing an onsite mobile experience catered to concertgoers for Virgin Mobile FreeFest presented by LG.
About Virgin Mobile USA
Virgin Mobile USA is “Highest Ranked Customer Service Performance among Non-Contract Wireless Providers” (Vol. 1 and Vol 2) by J.D. Power and Associates* and offers millions of customers control, flexibility and connectivity through Virgin Mobile’s Beyond Talk™ No Contract plans with unlimited 3G and 4G data for mobile phone service including Android™-powered smartphones and prepaid Broadband2Go high-speed Web access on the Nationwide Sprint Network. Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk monthly unlimited data plans, which start at $35, are ideal for those smartphone users hungry for the most connectivity and the least amount of voice minutes. Virgin Mobile-branded devices are available at more than 40,000 retail stores, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy and RadioShack. Top-Up cards are available at approximately 150,000 locations nationwide. Experience Virgin Mobile on the Web at Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and purchase Virgin Mobile USA products at www.virginmobileusa.com. For more news, click here.
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 United States, 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. During the last 32 years, I.M.P. and the 9:30 Club have put on nearly 12,000 events, hosting millions of music fans.
About LG Electronics, USA
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a $49 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative mobile phones, home entertainment products, home appliances, commercial displays, air conditioning systems and energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.
* Virgin Mobile received the highest numerical score among non-contract wireless providers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Wireless Customer Care Non-Contract StudySM — Vol. 1 & Vol, 2. Vol. 2 study based on responses from 3,026 consumers measuring seven non-contract wireless providers and measures opinions of consumers who contacted customer care within the past year. Vol. 1 study based on responses from 2,840 consumers measuring six non-contract wireless providers and measures opinions of consumers who contacted customer care within the past year. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed July-December 2011 [Vol. 1] and January-June 2012 [Vol. 2]. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.