Texas Nonprofits Received More Than $2.1 Million in 2008 From the Verizon Foundation to Support Education, Literacy and Domestic Violence Prevention Initiatives

IRVING, Texas - More than 900 nonprofit groups in Texas received more than $2.1 million from the Verizon Foundation in 2008, enabling recipient organizations to improve literacy skills, enhance educational opportunities for children, and help domestic violence survivors rebuild their lives.

In addition, Verizon employees volunteered more than 46,200 hours to nonprofit groups throughout the state in 2008.

"Verizon has a long-standing tradition of working to improve the communities where we operate by supporting organizations that strive to make a difference in the lives of individuals," said Carl Erhart, president of Verizon's Central region.  "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 awarded by Verizon in 2008 are:

• North Texas Future Fund - Irving - $100,000 to increase the current network of literacy providers working in partnership with the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County.

• Texas Computer Education Association - Austin - $70,500 to raise awareness and train teachers throughout Texas on the use of Thinkfinity.org, Verizon's free educational resource Web site.
• Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange - $24,500 to implement a new client case-management system.  

   

• Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic - $24,000 for education materials in recorded and computerized formats for learning-disabled students. 
• The Salvation Army - Dallas - $20,000 for disaster recovery efforts in the Houston area and across Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike. 
• Friends of the Keller Library - $20,000 to create learning centers that will feature Thinkfinity.org.
• Women's Shelter of South Texas - Corpus Christi - $20,000 to provide free counseling services and support for domestic violence survivors.
• Boys and Girls Club of Collin County - $20,000 to fund an Internet safety program for the club's youth.
• SafeHaven of Tarrant County - $15,000 to fund an awareness project to educate the community about domestic violence and the services the shelter provides to survivors of domestic violence.
• Christian Community Action - $14,000 to fund advanced English-as-a-second-language courses utilizing interactive computer technology.

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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