WJZ-TV 13 Salutes Bell Atlantic Telephone Pioneer

WJZ-TV 13 Salutes Bell Atlantic Telephone Pioneer

99-Year-Old Retiree Still Devotes Time to Help Others

July 8, 1999

BALTIMORE -- Anna Marie Landenberger, a 99-year-old honorary life
member of the Bell Atlantic Telephone Pioneers, will be honored by WJZ-
TV for dedicating 30 years of her life to community service. WJZ will
recognize Landenberger with its "Gold 13 Salute" today
during its 6 p.m. newscast.

Landenberger began volunteering with the Bell Atlantic Telephone
Pioneers, a group of current and retired company employees, in 1969.
Over the years, she has made hundreds of lap robes, baby bonnets, hats
and bags of Easter candies to distribute to area hospitals, nursing homes
and The Manna House, a local soup kitchen that feeds, clothes and houses
the poor and homeless.

"What started out as a small community project for the Pioneers
years ago, evolved into a program that has touched the lives of so many
people -- disabled veterans, parents of HIV and crack-affected babies,
nursing home residents and the homeless," said Sue Staley,
president of the Maryland Chapter Telephone Pioneers. "Yet,
throughout the years, Marie never once asked for recognition."

Due to her unselfish dedication and commitment to community service,
Landenberger was named an honorary life member of the Telephone
Pioneers. Landenberger believes in helping others, but also remains active
to help overcome the effects of a broken hip, high blood pressure and
arthritis in her hands.

Last March, the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Awards Committee presented
Landenberger with a $1,000 check for her volunteer efforts. Landenberger
gave the check to the Bell Atlantic Telephone Pioneers to start a Spinoza
Bear program for children with cancer or who have lost a parent. The
Spinoza bears are 17-inch soft cuddly teddy bears equipped with a high
quality cassette player and speaker. The bears come with several tapes so
that a tape appropriate to the child's needs may be inserted into the cassette
player.

Bell Atlantic Telephone Pioneers are active and retired employees who
participate in numerous community service projects. The Maryland
Chapter is part of the Telephone Pioneers of America, the largest industry-
based, community service organization in the world, with more than
800,000 members. Bell Atlantic Pioneers volunteered over 35 million
hours last year serving others.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With 43 million telephone access lines and nine
million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.