Junior Achievement of New York Receives $25,000 Boost From Verizon for Educational Initiative to Encourage Hispanic Youths to Stay in School

NEW YORK - Verizon and Junior Achievement of New York (JANY) have announced an educational initiative to decrease the high dropout rate among Hispanic youths in New York City and Long Island and help ensure that they are well-prepared to tackle the rigors of the workplace.

The initiative, funded by a $25,000 contribution from Verizon, is aimed at encouraging young Hispanics to stay in school and preparing them to succeed in a global economy. Many JANY programs are taught by trained volunteers - including corporate employees, parents, college and high school students, retirees and community-based partners.

"By providing positive adult role models -- who illustrate ways to build self-confidence, develop personal and financial skills, and find avenues of success -- we can encourage children to do better and stay in school," said Lisa Castillo, senior vice president for programs at JANY. "We are thrilled about this initiative.  This contribution will help so many students realize their potential."

The High School for Law and Public Service, one of four small schools created inside George Washington High School, located in upper Manhattan, is one of the first to benefit from this initiative. The school concentrates on giving students a well-rounded, basic education, rather than special preparation in law. 

In addition to the financial donation, Verizon will support JANY's Web- based, high-tech financial-education, business-skills and workforce-readiness curriculum. 

"With technology moving at such a rapid pace, it is critical that as good corporate citizens we assist organizations such as Junior Achievement in their mission to promote workforce readiness among our youth - tomorrow's leaders," said Thomas Dunne, Verizon vice president for government affairs for New York.

Altogether, JANY reaches an estimated 7 million students worldwide with the help of its volunteers and financial support from businesses.

Nick Politi, principal of the High School for Law and Public Service, said, "I am so proud of our students, for they have evolved into fine young adults who will one day go onto great things." 

Verizon, a strong supporter of the Hispanic community, has donated more than $37 million over the past three years to educational and technological programs, and has partnered with community organizations to donate computers and services, so that young Latinos can succeed and make their dreams come true.
 
Verizon has also joined with the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and Scholastic Inc. to launch Lee y serás^® (Read and You Will Be), a national Latino early literacy initiative that engages parents and communities in the literacy development of their children. For more information about Verizon in Spanish, visit www.verizon.com/noticias.
 
[Editor's Note: Photos available.]

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 55 million customers nationwide.  Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks.  Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 252,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com/espanol.

About Junior Achievement
JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA Worldwide offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Today, 139 individual area operations reach approximately four million students in the United States, with more than 3.5 million students served by operations in 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

####