For several years, Phenomenal Networks has sponsored its "IP Call Home" program at the Schwan’s USA CUP soccer tournament. Our $15,000 investment annually translates into savings of over $100,000 in long distance phone calls each year for the kids and their grateful American host families.
"This was the perfect solution for our problem," says Teri Vogt, tournament director for Schwan’s USA Cup, the largest youth soccer tournament in the USA. "It provided an important service to participants - from the players and their parents who wanted to stay in touch to the home stay families (many children stayed with local families), who didn't want to be left with large telephone bills." Over a six-day period, the international players placed more than 6,000 calls, which Phenomenal Networks estimated would have cost around $100,000 over regular phones.

Phenomenal Networks has agreed to sponsor a new, Under-16 league of the Minnesota Rugby Union. Aimed at boys up to 16 years old, the goal of the organization is to provide a strong focus on developing players that will feed the current U-19 rugby program. The agreement provides funding for a three year period and will initially support six teams in the Twin Cities area with the addition of 4 teams in 2007.

"We are really pleased that Phenomenal Networks has offered this support," commented Chris Babiash, Youth Rugby Director for the Minnesota Rugby Union and Minnesota Amateur Rugby Foundation (MARF). "The U-19 program has been growing at a rate of 35% per year and with the addition of U16 Rugby we will have a new feeder system to build the sport and growth of rugby".