A New App That Helps Schools in California Put a Stop to Teen Bullying Is Among Innovative Solutions Supported by the Verizon Foundation in 2011

Looking for a solution to help stop teen bullying in schools? Thanks to Webwise Kids, a California nonprofit, there is an app for that. The organization is among nonprofit groups in the state that focused on education programs, domestic violence prevention or use technology to deliver or enhance health care and received more than $8 million in 2011 from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon.

Nationally, the foundation awarded more than $66 million to nonprofit organizations last year.  

"Every day at Verizon we see firsthand how technology helps address big social issues like improving the quality of and access to health care, helping people make smarter energy choices and bolstering education," said Tim McCallion, Verizon West region president.  "Our company and our employees are part of the fabric of the communities we serve, and we're proud to use the innovative power of Verizon's network technology to support community organizations making life better for so many Californians."

Verizon employees volunteered more than 48,500 hours to nonprofit groups throughout California in 2011.  The Verizon Foundation supports employee volunteerism and generosity and matches employee contributions to a nonprofit organization when a Verizon employee volunteers 50 hours, with more than $852,000 in these matching gifts going to California nonprofits and charitable groups last year. 

California programs and organizations supported by the Verizon Foundation in 2011 include:

• Rivers of Hope Foundation, San Diego - $80,000 to provide counseling and healthy-relationship training for foster children at risk for domestic violence.

• Operation Safe House, Riverside - $75,000 to provide transitional housing services to youth exposed to violence in their homes.
• MK Level Playing Field Institute, San Francisco - $30,000 to provide summer courses and year-round academic and mentoring support for students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. 
• Redlands Community Hospital Foundation, Redlands - $24,000 to increase the number of physicians who can access diagnostic imaging data from their remote home offices.

Shared Success

By focusing on mobility, broadband and global connectivity, Verizon is breaking down old technology barriers and empowering businesses and communities. The company is delivering long-term shareholder growth by helping to solve and address pressing issues from health care to energy.  To learn more about the strategy, known within the company as shared success, visit http://responsibility.verizon.com/.

The Verizon Foundation helps people to live healthy, safe and independent lives by addressing disparities in education, health care and sustainability.  Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live.  Verizon's employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.2 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information, visit www.verizonfoundation.org. 

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 108 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 194,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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