Delaware Nonprofits Received More Than $328,000 in 2008 From the Verizon Foundation to Support Education, Literacy and Domestic Violence Prevention Initiatives
WILMINGTON, Del. - Nonprofit groups in Delaware received more than $328,000 from the Verizon Foundation in 2008, enabling recipient organizations to improve literacy skills, enhance educational opportunities for children, and help domestic violence survivors rebuild their lives.
In all, 118 nonprofits received support from the Verizon Foundation and Verizon employees, through a combination of direct grants from the foundation and donations.
Among the grant recipients were: Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Delaware Inc.; Child Inc.; Community Legal Aid Society; Delaware Adolescent Program Inc.; Delaware Center for Educational Technology; Delaware Center for Justice Inc.; Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence; La Esperanza Inc.; Latin American Community Center Inc.; Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League; St. Francis Foundation; The Elizabeth House Family Life Center Inc.; Trustees of Color; University of Delaware; VSA Arts of Delaware; and Wilmington HOPE Commission.
Verizon employees and retirees in Delaware donated more that 3,500 hours to nonprofit organizations throughout the state in 2008.
"Verizon has a century-old tradition of making a positive difference in the communities where we live and work by supporting and investing in the lives of people and organizations in our communities," said William R. Allan, president of Verizon Delaware. "Through grants and the generous contributions of our employees' time and talent, we are having a profound and positive impact in Delaware communities."
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 leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 80 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
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