Hip-hop sensation Sean Kingston to perform at teen's private coming-of-age
party for 200 friends and family
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than six million text
and online votes, 14-year-old San Jose teen, Athaly R. has been crowned winner
of the Verizon Wireless "My Fabulous 15" contest. She has been awarded a
dream-come-true Quinceanera party valued at approximately $45,000. The party
package includes food for 200 guests, a formal dress, transportation to and
from the party; pink LG Venus cell phones for Athaly's court of closest
friends, and a private, live concert by hip-hop artist Sean Kingston.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080801/AQF048)
"I still can't believe I won this," said Athaly. "There were so many
amazing candidates. I am honored to have been chosen. My family is so happy.
No one in my family has ever had a party like this!"
Athaly came to the United States from Mexico with her family when she was
seven-years-old, speaking no English. Today, she is proud of having learned
the language fluently and attends school regularly. Although she has always
dreamt of a Quinceanera party, she knew that her parents couldn't afford it
and that was the reason she never asked them for a celebration. Her father
was recently diagnosed with a health condition, which caused further financial
strain on the family. Athaly said that winning this Fabulous 15 party would
make her the happiest girl in the world and her only hope, just like thousands
of teenagers in the United States, was to win "My Fabulous 15" party and
celebrate her coming of age.
"The response has been extraordinary," said Oscar Madrid, director of
marketing for Verizon Wireless. "More than six million text message votes and
500,000 online votes were cast to pick the winner. Participation was much
higher than we expected. Almost 3,000 teens from Los Angeles, San Jose/San
Francisco, Phoenix, Denver and Portland entered to win."
Two runners-up, Martha G. from South Gate in Los Angeles County and
Jessika R. from Orange County, have won pep rallies at their respective
schools. These events include a DJ, green screen, Dance Dance Revolution
video game and other giveaways.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and
data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge,
N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more
information, go to: http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request
broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless
operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at
http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless
Heidi Flato of Verizon Wireless, +1-925-279-6545,
heidi.flato@verizonwireless.com; or Ximena Ossa, +1-310-473-4422,
Ximena.Ossa@rlpublicrelations.com, for Verizon Wireless
