Verizon Foundation Offers $25,000 in Grant Opportunities to Boys & Girls Clubs in Delaware

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is inviting Boys & Girls Clubs across Delaware to apply for $25,000 in grants for programs that use the resources of the foundation's online educational portal, Thinkfinity.org, to improve students' skills in literacy, science, technology and math.

The foundation will award one-time grants of $5,000 each to five clubs to integrate Thinkfinity.org into their after-school curricula.  Thinkfinity.org offers free educational and literacy resources for teachers, parents and students, including standards-based, grade-specific, K-12 lesson plans and interactive activities provided in partnership with leading educational and literacy organizations.

"Using technology to engage students in innovative ways helps to sharpen their learning skills and gives them a solid foundation to excel in the classroom and in life," said William R. Allan, president of Verizon Delaware.  "Thinkfinity offers educators and parents easy-to-use online tools to teach students in creative and interactive ways."

To be eligible, a grant applicant must be a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization and a Boys & Girls Club in Delaware.  Proposals should encourage the use of Thinkfinity.org, provide examples of how Thinkfinity will be integrated in the club's after-school curriculum, and submit a progress report at the end of the grant period.  Clubs must submit their proposals online at the Verizon Foundation's website, www.verizonfoundation.org/apply, using invitation code 464294EE68.  The deadline for submitting proposals is 11 p.m. Eastern time, July 30, 2010.  Final grant decisions will be made by Sept. 14, 2010.

The Verizon Foundation will host a free Thinkfinity.org information session for Boys & Girls Clubs representatives on June 22, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Delaware Center for Educational Technology, Collette Center, 35 Commerce Way, Dover.  Those interested in attending can register by contacting Allison Smith at asmith@bgclubs.org.

The Verizon Foundation supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 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 $26.1 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 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 93 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 217,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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