7 Verizon Employees Win Top Company Award for Launching Community Outreach Program in Fairmont

FAIRMONT, W. Va. - The infants in the neonatal care unit at Ruby Memorial Hospital receive hand-crocheted bonnets and blankets to welcome them into the world. Spousal-abuse victims at the Hope Domestic Violence Center can use donated cell phones for protection. Through food donation drives, the shelves of the Union Mission are stocked.

All of these donations and more were made possible by a dedicated team of seven employees from Verizon's LiveSource Call Completion Center who volunteered their own time and resources to turn a small partnership with Miller Junior High School into a major community outreach program that has touched thousands of people.

In recognition of their achievement, the Fairmont-based employees recently earned the company's highest honor, the Verizon Excellence Award, which recognizes employees for exceptional contributions in serving the company's customers, communities and businesses.

"This team is an example of the commitment, innovation and passion our employees demonstrate every day," said H. Stan Cavendish, president of Verizon West Virginia. "Exceptional employees make Verizon a great American company and a great place to work. That's why we're so proud to celebrate their accomplishments with this award."

Members of the team are Judith Wagner, Pennie Wyont, Diana Allen, Diana Ash, Anna McHenry, Patrice Collins and Brenda Bryant.

"We wanted to give back to the community and reach out to those in need," said Wagner, the team's advisor. "The projects we completed over the last year helped inspire our co-workers to pitch in and make a difference for our community."

The team coordinated fundraisers through bake sales and a Christmas craft extravaganza and conducted several donation drives, including the collection of cell phones for the Hope Domestic Violence Center and food for the Union Mission. The team also organized a teacher appreciation day, a student recognition party and book drives to support education and promote literacy.

Verizon recently honored the team and other 2004 Verizon Excellence Award recipients at ceremonies in New York City. Employee-judges selected team and individual winners based on award criteria such as how well their projects enhanced the company's reputation and improved quality, customer satisfaction, cost savings or work environment.

Employees submitted approximately 3,400 nominations, representing 18,200 co-workers. Judges selected 530 individual and team finalists and named 101 individual and 142 team winners.

In addition to the Verizon Excellence Award, Verizon recognizes superior employee performance through other awards including the Verizon Heroes Award for acts of courage, heroism or outstanding public service.

Verizon Communications

A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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