Bell Atlantic Pioneers Help Others Give Thanks All Year Long

Bell Atlantic Pioneers Help Others Give Thanks All Year Long

Volunteerism Not Limited to Holidays

Nov. 24, 1999

BOSTON -- While news reports often highlight volunteerism on
Thanksgiving and other major holidays, Bell Atlantic Pioneers are helping
others feel thankful all 365 days of the year, not just Thanksgiving Day.
This year, they will volunteer nearly six million hours, pitching in
whenever there's an opportunity to help.

The week before Thanksgiving, Pioneers were busy throughout eastern
Massachusetts.

Five members cooked and served about 180 meals at the New England
Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Boston. [Photos available.] Last week,
Pioneers collected 1,500 pounds of food to replenish food pantries from
Brockton to Cape Cod. In addition, 36 food baskets were assembled and
distributed earlier this week in communities north of Boston. Local
shelters for abused women also received $800 in supermarket gift
certificates purchased by Pioneers with proceeds from recent fundraising
activities.

The Pioneers are part of one of the largest industry-sponsored volunteer
service organizations in the United States, comprised of active and retired
employees from throughout the telephone industry.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront
of the new communications and information industry. With more than 43
million telephone access lines and more than 10 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.