NAACP Launches Multimedia Web Site to Bring the Lessons of History to Life

The NACCP has launched the NAACP Interactive Historical Timeline, a multimedia Web site that tells the story of the 101-year-old civil rights organization through words, pictures and video.

The Web site, www.naacphistory.org, was funded through a $500,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon. Resources from the NAACP timeline will also be made available to teachers, students and parents through Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), a free educational Web site.

"A look back at the first 100 years of the NAACP's history shows tremendous progress that has taken place since W.E.B. Du Bois and his co-founders first formed the organization in February 1909," said Benjamin Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP. "It also shows there is still more work to be done. I encourage everyone to spend a few moments on the NAACP interactive timeline, to look around, explore, discover and learn."

The timeline provides an easy-to-follow chronological listing of the NAACP's role in key events in the civil rights movement, education and an array of other topics. Each point on the timeline includes a written narrative, historic video and photos as well as an audio narrative read by a celebrity such as actor, director and producer Laurence Fishburne; actress and singer Tatyana Ali; actress Tichina Arnold; actor Dennis Haysbert; actress and director Nia Long; actress Tracee Ellis Ross; actor Nate Parker; and actress and director Chandra Wilson. 

"Using technology to expand educational opportunity for all is a key mission of the Verizon Foundation," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston. "We are proud to partner with the NAACP to help bring its important lessons of the past to the students of today in a dynamic, engaging format. And we are happy to add information from the NAACP Timeline to the robust pool of teaching resources available through Verizon Thinkfinity."

Verizon Thinkfinity is a free educational Web site that contains thousands of engaging resources that make learning fun. Lesson plans, in-class activities and homework help can be found quickly and searched by grade level, keyword or subject.

The Verizon Foundation supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $67.5 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26.1 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

About the NAACP
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil and human rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and advocating for equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 91 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of approximately 222,900 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

####