Verizon Employees to Volunteer at Schools in Five States to Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

NEW YORK - Verizon employees in five states and the District of Columbia are volunteering their time at local schools in recognition of the Martin Luther King Day of Service. The day is formally observed Monday (Jan. 19), the federal holiday that commemorates the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader.

Groups of 10 to 15 employees are taking part in a myriad of volunteer activities through Jan. 29.  The activities include redesigning a school library and kitchen in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; creating Martin Luther King Jr. posters with elementary school students in Highland Ranch, Colo.; and painting murals at schools in Tulsa, Okla.

Verizon employees are also volunteering at schools in Clinton, Miss.; Cary, N.C.; and Washington, D.C.

The activities are led by Verizon Business Community ambassadors, who serve as primary points of contact for Verizon Business' Community Investment Program by coordinating local outreach efforts. These efforts continue a long-standing tradition of giving back to the community by Verizon volunteers.

In 2008, Verizon employees volunteered more than 607,000 hours to 5,169 nonprofit organizations. The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, supports employee volunteerism by awarding a $750 grant to a nonprofit organization when a Verizon employee volunteers 50 hours or more to the organization during the year.

"The MLK Day of Service is a perfect reminder of the important role volunteerism and social responsibility can play in our communities," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston. "Verizon is tremendously proud of the generous spirit of our employees, who donate their time and talent to make a difference in the areas where they live and work."

Since its inception as a national holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been recognized as a national day of volunteer service, encouraging people to take action to assist their community.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its signature program, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2007, the foundation awarded more than $67.4 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $25.1 million in combined contributions. 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 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 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 more than 228,000 and in 2007 generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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