Bell Atlantic Employees Lend 'Helping Hands' In Pittsburgh

Bell Atlantic Employees Lend 'Helping Hands'
In Pittsburgh

Volunteers Teach Community Residents
How to Use Computers, Access the Internet

December 7, 1999

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- If you've had trouble finding the ramp to the
Information superhighway, Bell Atlantic employees in Pittsburgh
are offering a helping hand to get you there.

Fifteen employees are teaching children and adults at the East Liberty
branch of the Carnegie Library to use computers, become familiar with
software programs and access the World Wide Web. All are volunteers
who give their time each week through a program called Project Helping
Hands.

"We're happy to provide a valuable service to our
community," said Cindy Newman, a Bell Atlantic specialist in
training education and development who coordinates Project Helping
Hands in Pittsburgh. "Many families don't have personal computers
at home. Our team works in the library's computer center to familiarize
people with computers and the Internet.

Since Project Helping Hands began in October 1998, employees have
volunteered more than 900 hours and served over 3,000 library patrons.
Earlier this year, volunteers won Bell Atlantic's "Leaders in
Excellence" award, the company's highest honor for community
service.

"Our volunteers are very patient and committed to helping anyone
interested in becoming familiar with computer technology,"
Newman said. "We've had great experiences and learned so much
while teaching others. We get back much more than we give in a program
like this.

Many volunteers are members of a Bell Atlantic employee group called
the Telecommunication Excellence for Associates And Managers of
Pennsylvania & Delaware. The group is a local chapter of the Consortium
of Information and Telecommunications Executives (CITE). CITE strives
to increase the individual and collective effectiveness of African-
American and other minority employees, and to contribute to Bell Atlantic
and the broader communities it serves.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With more than 43 million telephone access lines
and more than 10 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic
companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data
services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest
publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also
among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications
markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.