Alltel Sponsors Historically Black CIAA Tourney and Gives $100,000 in Scholarships

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Telecom titan Alltel Wireless’ exclusive corporate partnership with the 2009 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament helped continue its reign as one of the most popular collegiate athletic sporting events in the nation. Alltel, the nation’s largest wireless network with over 11 million wireless customers, demonstrated their commitment to the historically black collegiate athletic conference by donating $100,000 to the CIAA scholarship fund. CIAA fans also had an opportunity to meet Grammy Award-winning gospel sensation Smokie Norful, who signed CDs and autographs at the Alltel booth during the five-day extravaganza in late February. The Hampton, Va.-based CIAA Tournament is the third-most attended athletic event in all of college sports and is second only to Division I powerhouses — the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big East tournaments.
Alltel appreciates being plugged into that power source of scholastic-athletic excellence.

“Alltel is proud to be the official wireless partner of the [CIAA],” said Regina Woziwodzki, Alltel’s director of multicultural marketing. “In addition to the exclusive content offering, the contributions to the CIAA scholarship fund demonstrate Alltel’s commitment to customers and the community.”

While Alltel, which is based in Little Rock, Ark., spotlighted various phones and calling plans, they also scored big on the fun factor. The wireless calling giant offered exclusive deals at the Alltel retail store inside the Charlotte Convention Center during the CIAA Tourney. The company provided interactive games, including a couple of oversized phones on which players used their feet to text “Alltel Loves CIAA.”
–terry shropshire