U.S. Cellular is "calling all communities" to believe in something better for children's education by letting them decide which 10 schools around the country will share $1 million.

To vote for a school in the local area, residents can visit any U.S. Cellular store before Jan. 15, 2009, for a postage-paid postcard ballot. All schools in the United States, public and private, serving kindergarten through high school, are eligible for the award. Winners will be announced in February.

No purchase is necessary to vote. The top 20 leading schools will be posted weekly at participating U.S. Cellular stores and at uscellular.com/callingallcommunities.

This comes at a crucial time in North Carolina when a total of $117 million dollars will be cut from public school funding, with $59 million coming from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction and $58 million from among the 115 local public school systems, the company said in a news release.

According to an October study from the American Association of School Administrators, two-thirds of superintendents described their districts as "inadequately funded."

"We recognize that funding for education is falling short across the country, and this is an important issue for our customers," said Marcel Bekers, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the eastern North Carolina. "We hope this opportunity will empower our communities to rally around our schools and our children."

The winning schools can choose how they will use the money.

Nationwide, U.S. Cellular has donated more than $4 million to nonprofit organizations serving youth, families and seniors, and associates have volunteered more than 8,000 hours so far in 2008.

"We've got the most loyal customers in the industry because we listen to them and care about what they care about," Bekers said. "We are in the business of connecting people and the schools that can successfully connect their parents, teachers and communities will ultimately generate the most support."

Anyone wanting more information can visit www.uscellular.com/callingallcommunities for official rules.