Rhode Island Nonprofits Received $600,000 in Verizon Foundation Grants During 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Hundreds of nonprofit groups in Rhode Island received nearly $600,000 from the Verizon Foundation in 2008, enabling the organizations to improve literacy skills, create new and diverse approaches to technology-based education, and help domestic violence victims rebuild their lives.

Verizon employees and retirees also volunteered more than 4,200 hours of personal time to assist nonprofit organizations throughout the state.

"The Verizon Foundation is focused on advancing literacy and education and preventing domestic violence," said Donna Cupelo, Verizon region president of New England. "We also are proud of our employees, who continue to volunteer their time and donate money to make the communities where they live and work a better place.  Together, we are making a difference."

Recipients of major grants in Rhode Island include:

• Women's Fund of Rhode Island - $20,000 to facilitate a Domestic Violence Technology Solutions/Social Change Request For Proposals (RFP) for community organizations across Rhode Island to apply for funding in order to address the deeply rooted issues - both societal and institutional - that contribute to the victimization of women through domestic violence.

• Crossroads Rhode Island - $10,000 for a Family Domestic Violence Prevention Program to provide information on a variety of issues including safety plans, domestic violence prevention and building healthy relationships.
• Day One - $5,000 in support of The Rhode Island Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), which provides evaluation, evidence gathering and treatment services to child victims of sexual and/or physical abuse and their non-offending family members. 
• Dorcas Place - $10,000 to enhance its Family Literacy Program providing intensive ESOL education for limited English proficient (LEP) families statewide.
• International Institute - $9,000 to enhance the Institute's Education & Training program and encourage the development of English language, life and job skills to help students become financially independent and contribute positively to their communities.
• Junior Achievement - $10,000 for the JA Economics for Success program, which explores personal finance and students' education and career options based on their skills, interests and values.  The program is a series of six activities recommended for students in grades 6, 7 and 8.
• The Apeiron Institute - $5,000  to promote the RI Sustainable Schools Network (SSN), a central vehicle for Apeiron and its partners to help schools reduce waste and exposure to toxins, conserve energy, reduce costs, and take actions to improve physical and environmental well-being in their facilities and curricula.
• The College Crusade of RI - $6,500 to support The Crusade's Adventures in Literacy Saturday Program, which provides 6th grade students with the foundational literacy skills needed to succeed in school and prepare students for higher education. 
• Harmony Hill School - $5,000 for Smartboards in the Classroom to help teachers teach children with learning disabilities and improve the learning environment for students.
• Rhode Island Department of Education - $25,000 to train teachers to use the Verizon Foundation's online, curriculum resource tool, Thinkfinity.org.

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.

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