Virgin Mobile and Samsung Canada answer the call for help with The RE*Generation Samsung Galaxy Ace II x

Latest RE*Generation phone available today and expected to raise $200,000 for at-risk and homeless youth programs in Canada

TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Making a difference for at-risk and homeless youth in Canada starts with picking up the latest Virgin Mobile phone! Starting today, the Samsung Galaxy Ace II x supporting the RE*Generation is up for grabs. This new Android smartphone is expected to do some serious good and raise $200,000 for at-risk and homeless youth programs in Canada.

With the sale of each RE*Generation phone, Virgin Mobile and Samsung Hope for Children will donate $15 to Virgin Unite's RE*Generation. All donations will go directly to organizations across Canada supporting at-risk and homeless youth. This marks the fourth RE*Generation phone from Virgin Mobile and Samsung.

Last year, $200,000 raised from the sales of the 2011 RE*Generation phone helped Samsung, Virgin Mobile and its Members make big changes like:

• Funding the Dans la rue food delivery truck for one year and serving more than 50,000 meals in Montréal
• Supporting year-round performing arts program, ongoing theatre workshops and a food security program for underprivileged youth at Vancouver's Project Limelight.
• Awarding Vancouver's Broadway Youth Resource Centre with a social investment grant to build their Resource Room, which provides at-risk and homeless youth access to a wide range of education, skill-building and support services.
• Helping fund the pilot project of Phones For Change, where the program will offer at-risk youth in Vancouver and Winnipeg with Virgin Mobile phones and plans while offering financial and budget management training.

"The Samsung RE*Generation phone is empowering a generation to use their mobile phone for an amazing cause," said Andrew Bridge, Managing Director, Virgin Mobile Canada. "It's a great way to not only raise funds, but build awareness of the issues, especially during the holidays. Canadians can hook a loved one  up with a sweet holiday gift while getting the warm feeling of helping young people in need."

"The Samsung Hope for Children program aims to bring attention to children's needs in the areas of education, health, and environmental sustainability," said Paul Brannen, Vice President, Mobile Communications at Samsung Canada. "We are passionate about this program and we are pleased to partner again with Virgin Mobile and the RE*Generation movement to continue providing resources to at-risk youth in Canada. Together, we can continue to empower Canadians to lend a hand and make a lasting change within their local communities."

The Samsung Galaxy Ace II x supporting the RE*Generation is available starting today at Virgin Mobile retail locations, The Source and online at www.virginmobile.ca. The RE*Generation phone is powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, supports access to GPS navigation, and streams live television programming with Mobile TV. Full details on the RE*Generation phone can be found at www.virginmobile.ca/phones.

The Samsung Hope for Children program is a global initiative that brings attention to the worldwide need for childhood education, health, and environmental sustainability. More information on Samsung Hope for Children can be found at http://pages.samsung.com/ca/hopeforchildren/English/about.html.

What else you can do to help

Together with its partners like Samsung, Virgin Mobile has raised more than $2.2 million for RE*Generation, supporting at-risk and homeless youth organizations across Canada. Members and Member wannabes can do more to help make a difference with:

• Change For A Dollar: Virgin Mobile Members can add $1 to their mobile phone bill each month. The monthly dollar will then be donated directly to Virgin Unite and the RE*Generation movement.
• Text To Donate: Whether or not they're a Member, Canadians can donate $5 to Virgin Unite and RE*Generation by texting REGEN to 30333.

To learn more about getting involved with Virgin Mobile's RE*Generation, head to www.virginmobile.ca/regen.

Virgin Unite's RE*Generation Movement

In early 2008, Virgin Mobile Canada and Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin group of companies, joined together to create the RE*Generation movement and empower a generation to help its own.  The RE*Generation brings together organizations that care about Canada's homeless and at-risk youth and connects them with people who want to help. To date, more than $2.2 million has been raised and dispersed to leading youth serving agencies across the country through programs such as Change for a Dollar, limited edition Samsung RE*Generation phones and ongoing RE*Generation benefit concerts. For more information about RE*Generation, visit http://www.virginunite.com or go to www.virginmobile.ca/regen to sign up and join the movement.

About Virgin Mobile Canada

Virgin Mobile Canada rewards, entertains and connects like no one else, delivering the super-hot phones on the blazing fast 4G network.  Virgin Mobile Members also get benefits like exclusive VIP access and deals and award-winning service. 91% of Members would also recommend Virgin Mobile to a friend.

The Virgin Mobile group of companies has attracted more than 18 million customers worldwide. Virgin Mobile phones are available at more than 4,000 locations nationally including The Source, Virgin Mobile retail locations and additional retail partners. Virgin Mobile products can also be purchased online or by calling 1-888-999-2321. Get personal with Virgin Mobile Canada on Facebook and Twitter.

About Virgin Unite

Virgin Unite is the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group. We unite people and entrepreneurial ideas to reinvent how we live and work in the world to help make people's lives better. Our aim is to do our bit to revolutionize the way businesses, government and the social sector work together - driving business as a force for good.  We also incubate new, independent approaches to leadership including the Elders, the Carbon War Room, and the Branson Centres of Entrepreneurship. Virgin Unite's overheads are covered by Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group, meaning that 100% of donations received go direct to the frontline where they are needed most. Join us at www.virginunite.com, follow us @virginunite and like us at facebook/virginunite.

About Samsung Hope for Children

Since our founding in 1969, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has worked with passion and purpose to actively serve as a generous and ethical corporate citizen everywhere we operate. The Samsung Hope for Children program was launched globally to bring attention to the worldwide need for childhood education, health, and environmental sustainability. Samsung Hope for Children was launched in Canada and will continue with more initiatives across all three program pillars. It is one of the ways in which Samsung uses our innovation to create a better world. Follow Samsung Canada @ facebook.com/SamsungCanada or on twitter @SamsungCanada. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com

SOURCE: Virgin Mobile Canada

Sommer Ellis, Hill+Knowlton
416-413-4756
[email protected]

Erica Faltous, Virgin Mobile Canada
416-607-8412
[email protected]

Kevin Galbraith, for Samsung
647-456-3786
[email protected]