$1.5 Million Grant From the Verizon Foundation to Fund Innovative Education and Technology Programs at National Law Enforcement Museum

WASHINGTON - The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund announced Monday (May 4) that it received a $1.5 million grant from the Verizon Foundation to develop educational and interactive technology programs at the planned National Law Enforcement Museum.

The facility, to be located in Judiciary Square, will be the world's most comprehensive museum focusing on law enforcement. Groundbreaking is scheduled for the fall of 2010.

"This grant will fund the development of interactive learning tools and educational programs that will enhance the museum experience and meet national standards of learning in history, civics, science and math," said Craig W. Floyd, chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which is leading the museum effort.

The grant, announced at a program with 8th grade students at Lincoln Multicultural Middle School in Northwest Washington, funds programs such as:

• What's in the Evidence, a standards-based school-age educational program, which will help students learn how to use clues and solve cases presented by National Law Enforcement Museum exhibits.  This program will be enhanced by a host of online materials that can be used by teachers and students. Those materials will be supported by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a content partner of the Verizon Foundation's Thinkfinity.org, a free comprehensive educational Web site that contains thousands of K-12 lesson plans, student activities and other resources created or approved by 11 of the nation's leading educational organizations.

• Additional educational programs at the museum and online through the National Law Enforcement Museum Web site, which are applicable to students in grades K-12 and focused in the areas of civics, history, math and science.
• A socially responsible educational program designed to increase respect, trust and confidence between law enforcement, domestic violence survivors, their families and the general public, including a monthly event designed to teach K-12 students the basics of playing safely in a community, decision-making and options to escape violence and bullying.
• A domestic violence awareness and prevention certification program for professionals who assist domestic violence survivors.

"Education and domestic violence prevention are two key social issues for the Verizon Foundation," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston. "Through Verizon's partnership with the National Law Enforcement Museum, students, parents and teachers will have access to valuable resources to improve their educational experience and find tools to help them identify and prevent domestic violence."

Students at Monday's event took part in a question-and-answer session with actor and director Eric Close, of the CBS TV show "Without A Trace." Close, who plays detective Martin Fitzgerald on the show, talked with students about civic engagement, peer pressure and how decisions made as a teen can lead to success or failure later in life.

In addition, students and their families took part in a Verizon Wireless HopeLine(r) drive to collect no-longer-used cell phones, batteries and accessories that will be recycled or refurbished and sold for re-use to support domestic violence survivors and nonprofit organizations focused on domestic violence awareness and prevention.

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 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 more than 86 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 237,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers. The NLEOMF maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 18,661 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now leading the effort to build the first-ever National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.

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