2001 Verizon Music Festival in Los Angeles To Benefit Victims of Terrorist Attacks

LOS ANGELES -- In response to the tragic events of Sept. 11, the Verizon Music Festival in Los Angeles will donate

a portion of the proceeds from all ticket sales to the United Way's September 11th Fund.

In addition, United Way representatives will be on hand at all the Verizon Music Festival events to accept donations

from festival attendees.

To date, Verizon has donated more than $4 million to the rescue and relief effort and is matching personal employee

donations on a 3-to-1 basis.

"Now is the time for all Americans to pull together," said Tim McCallion, Verizon Pacific Region president.

"And, this is a wonderful opportunity for Los Angeles area residents to show their support for the victims of this

terrible tragedy. Verizon is proud to be able to use this entertainment event to help victims, their families and

communities affected by the events of Sept. 11."

The Verizon Music Festival in Los Angeles will run Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. All profits from the opening night concert

"United in Swing" at the Wilshire Theatre will be donated to the September 11th Fund. A minimum of $10,000 in

donations is guaranteed from this concert.

A direct donation of $10,000 will be made to the fund from event proceeds from the festival's second night, Sept. 29,

which includes the 8th Annual Hollywood Salsa & Latin Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl.

The Oct. 1 show, which will feature the world premiere of special dance performances by the Lula Washington Dance

Theatre, will no longer have set ticket prices. For this show only, fans will be admitted by making a donation in any

amount starting at $1. All proceeds will go to the September 11th Fund. Tickets for this show are available only at the

Wilshire Theatre box office Sept. 28 from noon to 8 p.m., Sept. 29 from noon to 4 p.m., and on Oct. 1 from noon to
8 p.m.

In addition, collection centers, where attendees can donate directly to the September 11th Fund, will be set up at the

Hollywood Bowl, the Wilshire Theatre, Pasadena Park and California Plaza all venues for the Verizon Music Festival. All

collections will be set up and supervised by the United Way.

"We are all deeply saddened by the events of September 11," said George Wein, CEO of Festival Productions,

Inc., producers of the Verizon Music Festival. "Yet we cannot underestimate music's ability to comfort and console.

This is one way we can contribute to the relief efforts and help hundreds of families and the community to heal."

Tickets for paid shows are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets throughout Southern California or by telephone at

213-480-3232, 714-740-2000 or 805-583-8700. More information about the Los Angeles concerts can

also be obtained by calling 310-450-1173.

For additional festival information, go to www.festivalproductions.net

or www.verizon.com/musicfestival.

For more than 45 years, George Wein and Festival Productions Inc., have been the preeminent producers of music festivals

and entertainment properties in the world, including the famed Newport Jazz Festival, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage

Festival and the JVC Jazz Festivals Worldwide, among others. Throughout the years, FPI has built a storied reputation as

the foremost experts in festival productions and Wein has personally worked with venerable jazz greats such as Duke

Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies

are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 125 million access line

equivalents and approximately 28 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the

world. A Fortune 10 company with about 260,000 employees and more than $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global

presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit

www.verizon.com.

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