Bell Atlantic Foundation Extends REACHH With Contribution to Aid Summers County Youth

Bell Atlantic Foundation Extends REACHH With Contribution
to Aid Summers County Youth

Part of $100,000-Pledge for After-School Programs in W.Va.

July 9, 1998

HINTON, W.Va. -- Summers County youngsters will be able to surf the
Internet as a result of a $4,000 gift from the Bell Atlantic Foundation to
REACHH (Reaching Everyone to Assist in Creating Healthier Homes).

Peggy Rossi, coordinator of REACHH, praised Bell Atlantic for its
commitment to education and the children of Summers County. "These
funds are greatly needed," she said. "Today, there's only one computer
that's publicly available for children to use after school. That's at the
county library."

Rossi said REACHH will use the donation to buy computers and software.
Her goal is to establish day-care and after-school programs, which will
allow children to use computers and experience the vast resources of
Internet.

"We're delighted we can help bring new technology to the young people of
Hinton and Summers County," said Bell Atlantic - West Virginia Area
Manager Mike Newman. "Access to the Internet will open up a new
world of learning opportunities for these youngsters."

Bell Atlantic's gift to REACHH helps deliver on a pledge the company
made last year at the Governor's Summit for West Virginia's Future. The
company committed to award $100,000 over three years toward after-
school programs.

"We're pleased that Bell Atlantic has chosen to focus much of its charitable
effort on improving the quality of after-school care. The company is truly
a leader in corporate citizenship in West Virginia," said Dallas Bailey,
director of The Governor's Cabinet of Children and Families.

REACHH was conceived in 1989 by a group of Summers County
volunteers to address problems associated with domestic violence. It
provides crisis intervention on a 24-hour basis, individual and group
counseling, and serves as a community information center.
The Bell Atlantic Foundation supports a variety of projects domestically
and internationally, with an emphasis on new technology applications in
education, health and human services, the arts and humanities, and
civic development in the communities served by Bell Atlantic. For more
information, visit www.bellatlanticfoundation.com on the Internet.

Bell Atlantic -- formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX --
is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry.
With more than 41 million telephone access lines and 6.7 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.