Nonprofits in Maryland and the District of Columbia Received Nearly $2.9 Million in 2008 From the Verizon Foundation

BALTIMORE - More than 200 nonprofit groups in Maryland and Washington, D.C., received nearly $1.8 million from the Verizon Foundation in 2008.  The grants have enabled the recipient organizations to improve basic literacy skills, create new and diverse approaches to technology-based learning, including Internet safety programs, and help domestic violence survivors rebuild their lives. 

In addition, through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retires volunteered more than 56,000 hours and raised close to $1.1 million for nonprofit groups in 2008.

"Verizon has a long-standing tradition of working to improve the communities where we live and work by supporting organizations that strive to make a difference in the lives of individuals," said William R. Roberts, Verizon's regional president for Maryland and Washington, D.C.  "Through grants and the generous contributions of time and talent from our employees, we are having a positive impact on our communities."

Among the grants that Verizon awarded in 2008 are:

• African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation - $5,000 to support the 10th anniversary of the African American Civil War Memorial.

• Annapolis Area Ministries - $10,000 for its Building Futures Program, which helps women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
• Bright Beginnings - $7,500 for its Early Literacy Program to help ensure nearly 200 homeless children receive the high-quality services needed to prepare them for kindergarten.
• CASA (Citizens Assisting and Sheltering the Abused) - $10,000 for its Transitions program, which provides comprehensive services to those involved in domestic violence situations.
• Grupo de Artistas Latinoamericanos (GALA, Inc.) - $15,000 for its Language Access Program, which commissions Latino authors to translate scripts, study guides and other works into Spanish or English versions for use in classrooms and during live performances.
• FIRN (Foreign-Born Information & Referral Network) - $5,100 for Club LEAP, an after-school enrichment program to help English Speakers of Other Languages students improve their English proficiency.
• Literacy League of Dorchester County - $5,000 for its Home Libraries program, which enables children to receive age-appropriate books to read at home with their parents or caregivers.
• Living Classrooms - $3,500 for its Debris Cleanup event and Anacostia River celebration at Kingman Island.
• Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center - $20,000 to support its domestic violence prevention program.
• South Baltimore Learning Center - $5,000 to support its adult literacy program.
• Union Hospital of Cecil County - $20,000 for its Electronic Medical Records project, which will enhance the safety of healthcare services by reducing errors and increase the timely delivery of vital patient information.
• Urban Alliance - $19,000 to support its high school internship program that exposes students to the work world and helps them set goals for the future.
• Washington Hospital Center Medical House Call Program - $10,000 to support the Washington Hospital Center Medical House Call Program, which enables doctors, nurse practitioners and social workers to provide quality medical care to disadvantaged elderly residents in their homes.
• Woodworker for Children Charity - $5,000 for its Reading Is Toyrific(r) program, designed to improve the reading skills of low-income minority children and start a life-long enjoyment of reading.
• Youth Technology Institute (YouthTech) - $7,500 for Summer Explorers of Washington, D.C., a summer technology camp that creatively uses education to expose campers to cultures in Brazil, France, Scotland, South Africa and the United States.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2008, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $68 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 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 3 million hours of community service since 2000.  For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

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 more than 80 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 employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

####