Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago Receives $100,000 Grant To Host Workforce Development Events In Chicago From July To September

Total Wireless Expands Total Spark, Bringing Workforce Development and FIFA World Cup 2026™ to Five Cities

Total Wireless, a leading provider of premium, affordable and flexible wireless plans covered by the Verizon 5G network, today announces the expansion of Total Spark, its social impact program dedicated to supporting working students across the country.

Building on a successful inaugural year, Total Spark is growing to five cities – adding Philadelphia, PA; Compton, CA; and Newark, NJ to returning markets in Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX. In each city, Total Wireless is partnering with a local nonprofit organization, selected in partnership with Empower Work, to host workforce development events inside Total Wireless retail stores throughout the summer and fall.

"Total Spark is about showing up for our customers in meaningful ways, beyond the plans and devices we offer," said David Kim, President of Verizon Value. "In its first year, Total Spark brought real resources and community connection to students in Chicago, Dallas, and Detroit. This year, we're taking that momentum to five cities, because this is what Total Wireless stands for: affordable connectivity and real investment in the people who rely on it."

Mark Your Calendar

In partnership with Empower Work, a national nonprofit dedicated to building healthier workplaces, Total Wireless has selected one nonprofit grantee per city to receive a $100,000 grant and host three workforce development events inside local Total Wireless stores.

Each event includes workforce development programming designed by the local nonprofit partner, career resources tailored to the community, and employer networking opportunities.

On July 14, August 6 and September 24, the Chicago leg of Total Spark returns from year one, bringing workforce development events back to local Total Wireless retail stores in partnership with Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago.

"Working students are the backbone of our communities, and they deserve real support on their path forward," Jaime-Alexis Fowler, Founder and Executive Director at Empower Work said. "Partnering with Total Wireless on Total Spark allows us to bring trusted local nonprofits and critical career resources directly to the people who need them most, and we're proud to help make that happen in five cities this year."

Building on Year One Success

The positive results from 2025 were undeniable. Across 14 retail store events in three cities, Total Spark connected nearly 300 working students with the resources and support they needed to get ahead, with 91% of attendees saying they'd return.

Beyond the numbers, Total Spark redefined what it means to keep a community connected. Working students came in for resume workshops, job placement support and career coaching, and left better equipped to take the next step in their careers. For Total Wireless, it was proof that investing in communities and investing in the business are one in the same.

Working students showed up, and Total Wireless is ready to meet that moment again. Back for 2026, attendees who activate a new line of service on the day of the event can save $50 on their first month. The offer applies to new customers on the Total 5G Unlimited ($55/month) and Total 5G Unlimited+ ($65/month) plans and is available exclusively at Total Spark retail store events.

What's New in 2026

This year, Total Spark is expanding its reach and deepening its impact with several new additions to the program:

FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Giveaways: As an official prepaid wireless sponsor of FIFA World Cup 2026™, Total Wireless will offer a sweepstakes for FIFA World Cup 2026™ tickets at opening events in four of the five cities – Newark, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Compton. Four tickets will be available per city, tied to local matches.

Lyft Ride Credits: To remove the barrier of attendance for working students, Lyft will be providing ride codes as a solution through their LyftUp program to cover every Total Spark event in all 5 cities. This year, attendees will be able to use a short claimable code that provides credits to cover multiple roundtrips to and from the Total Wireless store locations on event days. The credits will be geofenced to/from store locations only and valid during the Total Spark program duration (events will run from June-September).

For more information on Total Spark and to find an event near you, visit totalwireless.com/total-spark.