Bell Atlantic Awards Patchogue Resident With Company's Highest Honor

Bell Atlantic Awards Patchogue Resident With Company's Highest Honor

Gregory Cerillo Recognized for Outstanding Community Service

April 10, 2000

NEW YORK - Gregory Cerillo of Patchogue, L.I., has been awarded one of Bell Atlantic's highest employee honors, the Leaders in Excellence Award.

Cerillo, specialist - Bell Atlantic General Business Services, is being honored for establishing "Hoops for Hunger," a nonprofit organization that raises money and collects food donations for area residents in need.

To generate donations, Cerillo organizes two basketball tournaments each year with the help of some 50 volunteers, including Shoreham Wading River High School Basketball Coach Bob Wolfe and fellow Bell Atlantic employee Tom Johnson.

In its first year (1995), Hoops for Hunger collected more than 800 pounds of food for local charities. Since then, the amount collected has increased substantially each year.

The Bell Atlantic Leaders in Excellence Award is presented annually to individual employees and employee teams who have demonstrated a devotion to quality and a commitment to customers or an outstanding dedication to community service.

"Our Leaders in Excellence champions set high standards and take responsibility to bring about lasting improvements," said Ivan Seidenberg, Bell Atlantic chairman and CEO. "Their initiative and hard work is at the heart of quality and helps create a workplace that is dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement."

Cerillo is one of 60 individuals who were honored recently at area celebrations hosted by Bell Atlantic's senior executives. Honorees were selected from more than 1,428 nominations, representing nearly 9,000 employees.

The next Hoops for Hunger basketball tournament, which is open to teams from 11 years of age to those over 40, will be held in August. Anyone interested in participating in or volunteering during the tournament, please call Cerillo at 631-654-7000.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry. With nearly 44 million telephone access lines and 12 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.