Four Illinois Nonprofits Receive Grants From Verizon Foundation

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Four Illinois nonprofit organizations have been awarded grants totaling $66,400 from Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, to help train workers for new, better jobs.

"As our society increasingly relies on technology, it is imperative that people have the training and skills to succeed," said James R. Hargrave, vice-president- public policy and external affairs, Verizon Illinois. "These grants will give many people the necessary training so they can obtain meaningful jobs in the future.

"Cultivating a skilled workforce helps attract jobs and businesses in a competitive marketplace," said Hargrave. "Healthy communities are essential to the success of any company, including Verizon. We are pleased to help these organizations ensure that the communities we serve continue to grow and thrive."

The organizations receiving workforce development grants are:

• Kishwaukee College Foundation, Malta -- $13,765 to purchase computers for a lab that will be housed in Rochelle and will enable Spanish-speaking students to receive computer literacy training as part of an English As Second Language course.

• Lawrence/Crawford Association for Exceptional Citizens, Robinson -- $25,000 to purchase curriculum, computers and peripheral equipment to teach students with disabilities the skills to acquire and hold a job.

• Palestine Community School District #3, Palestine -- $5,440 to underwrite a program that will require high school students to maintain a personal portfolio and transcript of skills achievement that will aid them in a job search or college application.

• United Way of McLean County, Bloomington -- $25,000 to fund a project that will provide employment training for people with developmental disabilities.

Verizon Foundation last year awarded 37 grants totaling nearly $1.3 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies in Illinois that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, enriching communities through technology, and creating a skilled work force. Nationally, the foundation awarded 22,000 grants totaling more than $70 million. The foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence and the economically and socially disadvantaged.

The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer more than 500,000 hours in their communities and provided $27.8 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

A Fortune 10 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $67 billion in revenues and 221,000 employees. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 137.6 million access line equivalents and 34.6 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with 14.6 million long-distance lines. The company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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