Four California Students Awarded Verizon Foundation Scholarships

Paying for college just got easier for four California students. They are among 675 students nationwide who have received scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year through Verizon's scholarship program for the children and dependents of company employees.

The students will each receive $5,000 annually toward their college expenses. The scholarship program selects recipients based on financial need, academic achievement and extracurricular activities. Each scholarship is renewable for three years and has a total value of $20,000.

This year's California recipients are:

• David Price of Irvine, son of Donna McCrory, who plans to attend Georgetown University.

• Juliana Cadena of Long Beach, daughter of Jane Cadena, who plans to attend Loyola Marymount University.
• Kylie Goana of Long Beach, daughter of Renee Cabrera, who plans to attend the University of Norte Dame.
• Darian Gonzalez of Oxnard, son of Anita Gonzalez, who plans to attend San Francisco State University.

Since 2001, the scholarship program has invested more than $39 million in the college education of 2,253 children and dependents of Verizon employees. For the 2010-2011 academic year, the program will provide more than $3.3 million for scholarships for the 675 Verizon scholars.

"Congratulations to this year's California scholarship recipients and their parents," said Tim McCallion, Verizon West region president. "These scholarships are one of the many ways that Verizon invests in developing future leaders of our community and our economy."

The Verizon Foundation awards the scholarships in partnership with Scholarship America, the nation's largest nonprofit, private sector scholarship and educational support organization, which was founded in 1958.

"Verizon is clearly committed to helping students succeed through education," said Donald Lassere, senior vice president, Scholarship America. "With the skyrocketing cost of tuition, coupled with our struggling economy, generous renewable scholarships have never been more needed by students. Scholarship America is proud to administer the Verizon scholarship program."

A list of the Verizon scholars for 2010 is available on the Verizon Foundation website at http://foundation.verizon.com/about/press/scholstudents10.shtml.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 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 $26.1 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 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 93 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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