Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages donates new van to Pittsburgh-area Beginning with Books program

Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages donates new van to Pittsburgh-area
Beginning with Books program

Company efforts focus on children's literacy

Aug. 20, 1998

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Just in time for the new school year, Bell Atlantic,
the world's largest publisher of Yellow Pages shopping directories, is
donating a new van to Beginning with Books, an early literacy program
based at the Homewood Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

The new training van will be unveiled tomorrow in Pittsburgh's downtown
Market Square during a special event hosted by KDKA-TV news anchor
Brenda Waters, who will read from several children's books to youngsters
from the Homewood YWCA, a child care program served by Beginning
with Books. The event begins at 11:45 a.m. and will feature free ice cream,
music and a raffle. The public is welcome to attend.

The donated 12-passenger van will provide Beginning with Books staff
members and volunteers with transportation to training sessions and will be
used to deliver books to low-income families.

A recent survey by the National Assessment of Educational Progress found
that some 75 percent of fourth-graders in the United States were not
proficient readers. Furthermore, it was found that less than half of those
students did not have basic reading skills.

Statistics such as these convinced Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages to create a
comprehensive outreach program to support children's literacy programs.
In June, the company donated $35,000 to Beginning with Books for the
new van and other program efforts. Bell Atlantic will continue to work
with the organization throughout the year. The Beginning with Books
partnership is just one component of the company's literacy efforts.

Through this program, Bell Atlantic is encouraging children to get excited
about reading.

"It seems that every day there are new reports about how reading to our
children can provide them with a positive start in life," said Lou Laste, staff
director of Marketing Community Relations at Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages.
"That's why we are so excited about our company-wide support of
children's literacy programs."

Earlier this summer, well-known actor and Bell Atlantic spokesperson
James Earl Jones delighted students of the Homewood Montessori School
in Pittsburgh, when he read from the classic children's book, Where The
Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.

"My colleagues at the Pittsburgh region sales office and I are delighted that
Bell Atlantic is extending the reach of its children's literacy efforts to the
Pittsburgh community through our donation to Beginning with Books,"
said Joel Carolla, general sales manager of Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages -
Pittsburgh region.

Beginning with Books was founded in 1984 by Dr. Joan Friedberg and Dr.
Elizabeth Segel, who share the belief that children who have books from an
early age do better in school -- a belief confirmed repeatedly by research.

"We're grateful for the avid support of the Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages,"
said Dr. Segal, executive director of Beginning with Books. "Their
contributions will help us provide parents of low-income children with the
books, information and encouragement they need to successfully embark
on daily home storybook reading."

Some of the Beginning with Books programs include The Gift Book
Program, Raising Readers Parent Clubs, Read Together and Project
BEACON.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 41 million telephone access lines and more than
7 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, as well as
market leaders in wireless services. Bell Atlantic companies are also among
the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications
markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.

Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages donates new van to Pittsburgh-area
Beginning with Books program

Company efforts focus on children's literacy

Aug. 20, 1998

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Just in time for the new school year, Bell Atlantic,
the world's largest publisher of Yellow Pages shopping directories, is
donating a new van to Beginning with Books, an early literacy program
based at the Homewood Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

The new training van will be unveiled tomorrow in Pittsburgh's downtown
Market Square during a special event hosted by KDKA-TV news anchor
Brenda Waters, who will read from several children's books to youngsters
from the Homewood YWCA, a child care program served by Beginning
with Books. The event begins at 11:45 a.m. and will feature free ice cream,
music and a raffle. The public is welcome to attend.

The donated 12-passenger van will provide Beginning with Books staff
members and volunteers with transportation to training sessions and will be
used to deliver books to low-income families.

A recent survey by the National Assessment of Educational Progress found
that some 75 percent of fourth-graders in the United States were not
proficient readers. Furthermore, it was found that less than half of those
students did not have basic reading skills.

Statistics such as these convinced Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages to create a
comprehensive outreach program to support children's literacy programs.
In June, the company donated $35,000 to Beginning with Books for the
new van and other program efforts. Bell Atlantic will continue to work
with the organization throughout the year. The Beginning with Books
partnership is just one component of the company's literacy efforts.

Through this program, Bell Atlantic is encouraging children to get excited
about reading.

"It seems that every day there are new reports about how reading to our
children can provide them with a positive start in life," said Lou Laste, staff
director of Marketing Community Relations at Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages.
"That's why we are so excited about our company-wide support of
children's literacy programs."

Earlier this summer, well-known actor and Bell Atlantic spokesperson
James Earl Jones delighted students of the Homewood Montessori School
in Pittsburgh, when he read from the classic children's book, Where The
Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.

"My colleagues at the Pittsburgh region sales office and I are delighted that
Bell Atlantic is extending the reach of its children's literacy efforts to the
Pittsburgh community through our donation to Beginning with Books,"
said Joel Carolla, general sales manager of Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages -
Pittsburgh region.

Beginning with Books was founded in 1984 by Dr. Joan Friedberg and Dr.
Elizabeth Segel, who share the belief that children who have books from an
early age do better in school -- a belief confirmed repeatedly by research.

"We're grateful for the avid support of the Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages,"
said Dr. Segal, executive director of Beginning with Books. "Their
contributions will help us provide parents of low-income children with the
books, information and encouragement they need to successfully embark
on daily home storybook reading."

Some of the Beginning with Books programs include The Gift Book
Program, Raising Readers Parent Clubs, Read Together and Project
BEACON.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 41 million telephone access lines and more than
7 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, as well as
market leaders in wireless services. Bell Atlantic companies are also among
the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications
markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.