Oregon State Nonprofits Received More Than $165,000 in Verizon Foundation Grants in 2007

BEAVERTON, Ore. - More than 20 nonprofit groups in Oregon received more than $165,000 from the Verizon Foundation in 2007, enabling 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 $67.4 million in grants last year. 

"Verizon's philanthropy is directed to address critical social needs," said David S. Valdez, Verizon senior vice president for the Northwest region.  "Our foundation is making strategic investments to improve the quality of life in our communities - where our customers and employees live and work.

"Projects that advance the fundamental skill of literacy, apply technology to augment organizational capabilities and protect the vulnerable tie directly into the Verizon Foundation's mission of making a difference," Valdez said.

In 2007, Verizon Foundation grants included $ 25,000 to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) for technology education in Turbine Hall; $15,000 each to the Inukai Boys and Girls Club of Hillsboro for its Internet safety program and the Women's Safety & Resource Center of Coos Bay for additional shelter space; $10,000 each  to the Oregon Children's Foundation (SMART) for literacy programs, Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center to support  Padres Con Initiative classes to aid in prevention of domestic violence, Beaverton Education Foundation to support classroom innovations grants, and Employers for Education Excellence (E3) to support Hispanic literacy mentoring in Hillsboro middle schools; and $7,500 to Volunteers of America for outreach and education for its Home Free program to support domestic violence prevention.

Fourteen other organizations received nearly $62,500 through the foundation's Verizon Volunteers and matching gifts program, which rewards employees with matching gifts and grants to nonprofits and institutions of higher learning that employees donate to and support.  Last year, Verizon employees volunteered hundreds of hours to nonprofit groups across Oregon, including a large employee volunteer effort to support SOLV Clean and Green in Washington County.

The Verizon Foundation is committed to improving literacy and K-12 education; fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence; and promoting the use of technology in health-care delivery.  In 2007, the foundation awarded $67.4 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad.  Under the foundation's Verizon Volunteer initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, company employees and retirees have also contributed nearly 3 million hours of community service since Verizon's inception in 2000.

For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

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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