More Than 100 Maryland Nonprofits Received Nearly $1.3 Million in Verizon Foundation Grants This Year

BALTIMORE - Easter Seals Greater Washington Baltimore Region, the Living Classrooms Foundation, the Independent College Fund of Maryland and the University of Maryland School of Medicine were among 169 nonprofit groups in Maryland to receive nearly $1.3 million from the Verizon Foundation this year.

The grants have enabled the recipient organizations to improve basic literacy skills, create new and diverse approaches to technology-based learning, and help domestic violence victims rebuild their lives.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications and one of the largest corporate foundations in the world, awarded a total of more than $69 million in grants last year.

"Our efforts are rooted in a century-old tradition of giving back to the communities we serve, guided by the firm belief that technology can have a profound and positive effect on social issues," said William R. Roberts, president of Verizon Maryland and Verizon Washington, D.C.  "Our foundation makes a positive difference by supporting and investing in the people and organizations striving to improve the quality of life in our communities - where our customers and employees live and work.

"That difference can be made in the progress of our children as they study to meet the challenge of learning and working in the 21st century; in the lives of millions of Americans with low literacy skills who are unable to complete a job application or even read a menu; and in the lives of men and women who live in abusive and deadly situations for whom a phone can open a line to hope," Roberts said.

Among the other Maryland nonprofits that received Verizon Foundation grants this year are: Anne Arundel Community Fund Inc.; Associated Catholic Charities; Baltimore School for the Arts Foundation Inc.; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland Inc.; Center for Summer Learning; CENTERSTAGE Associates Inc.; Chana: Counseling, Helpline and Aid Network for Abused Women; Children's Literacy Initiative; Coppin State University Development Foundation; DMCC Village Inc.; Cradle to College Pipeline; Domestic Violence Center of Howard County Inc.; Family Support Center Inc.; Greater Homewood Community Corp.; Harbor Hospital Foundation Inc.; Hearing and Speech Agency of Metropolitan Baltimore Inc.; Kennedy Krieger Foundation Inc.; Literacy Works Inc.; Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Foundation; Sheppard Pratt Health System; The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy; The B.E.L.L. Foundation; The George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy Inc.; The Maryland School for the Blind; University of Maryland Baltimore County Foundation; and Villa Julie College Inc.

So far this year, Verizon employees and retirees in Maryland donated more than 39,000 hours and raised over $510,000 for nonprofits while the Verizon Foundation matched approximately $475,000 through its matching gifts program.  Under the foundation's Verizon Volunteer initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, company employees and retirees also contributed nearly 3 million hours of community service nationally since Verizon's inception in 2000 and provided $29 million in combined contributions through this program.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, 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 63.7 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of nearly 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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