Verizon SuperPages Supports Computer Literacy Skills with $34,000 Grant to Calumet Community Center

DALLAS - In its ongoing commitment to improving computer literacy in the communities it serves, Dallas-based Verizon SuperPages will present $34,000 to Calumet Community Center on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 10:00 a.m. for Calumet's Cyber Café Computer Literacy Program. The grant will provide computers, software and books to enhance the computer literacy skills of the children and adults in the community served by the center.

The Calumet Community Center provides tutoring, mentoring and recreation programs for children and adults (including seniors) to meet the needs of a diverse population. The majority of its patrons are Hispanic, seeking to improve their English speaking, reading, writing and computer skills.

At the Kick-Off Celebration Verizon Information Services General Manager Wanda Stevens will present a $34,000 check to Calumet Community Center Chairman of the Board Bishop Charles V. Grahmann. Community leaders, the center's staff and many of those served by the center will join in the ceremony. The Senior Support Group Choir will sing at the event and the children plan a special "surprise" performance to mark the celebration. Verizon Information Services publishes the Verizon SuperPages telephone directories and SuperPages.com online directory.

"Supporting literacy is critical to Verizon SuperPages because we believe the ability to read, write and communicate is the foundation for success in life. Literacy helps prepare kids and adults for a lifetime of learning," Stevens said. "The Cyber Café Computer Literacy Program helps Dallas address the need to provide computer resources in the area that gives more people the ability to use helpful Internet tools such as SuperPages.com en Espanol."

Calumet Community Center Executive Director Juanita Miramontes added, "Verizon's contribution makes it possible for us to provide the latest computer education services to our patrons. These are precisely the tools that are necessary to develop the skills needed to be successful in school, at work and as an informed member of the community. We are very grateful to Verizon SuperPages for this generous contribution."

Annually, more than 1900 people take advantage of the center's computer education services. Verizon's grant will fund the purchase of new computers and associated software and learning materials that will be housed in the center's Cyber Café. Laptop computers will be available for check out to allow for home learning and a web site will provide access to resources of interest in both English and Spanish.

Calumet Community Center

In 1997, Calumet Community Center began providing education, recreation, and social services to the primarily Hispanic families of West Oak Cliff. Today, Calumet is recognized as one of the leading agencies in Dallas serving the Hispanic population. Calumet's objectives focus on providing a safe haven for children, youth and families, providing an array of educational and recreational programs and services, and to offer the community a safe place to congregate for social occasions.

Verizon Information Services and SuperPages.com

Verizon Information Services is the world's leading print and online directory publisher and a content provider for communications products and services. The largest directory publisher in the world, Verizon has annual revenues of more than $4.1 billion and publishes nearly 1,200 U.S. Verizon SuperPages directories and 400 international directories with a total circulation of approximately 142 million copies worldwide.

Verizon Information Services also produces and markets SuperPages.com, the Internet's #1 online directory and shopping resource. SuperPages.com receives as many as 12 million visits and 9 million unique visitors a month. SuperPages.com also powers directory services on MSN, InfoSpace, AltaVista, Excite, Lycos, Ask Jeeves, HotBot, BigFoot, Tripod and Angelfire.

Through its signature Verizon Reads program and the Verizon Literacy Network, Verizon is committed to leading the fight to increase U.S. literacy levels by creating community and corporate awareness, raising funds, encouraging collaboration among literacy providers and engaging employees in supporting literacy programs. Verizon Information Services supports community outreach programs across the nation designed to increase the literacy rate of children and adults, and to help people of all ages become computer literate.

For more information on Verizon Information Services, visit www.verizonyellowpages.com. For more information on Verizon's literacy programs, visit www.SuperPages.com and click on the Verizon Reads icon. Based in the Dallas area, Verizon Information Services is a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), one of the world's leading providers of communications services.

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