Mission Language & Vocational School Receives $20,000 From Verizon to Support its Vocational and Literacy Programs

The Mission Language & Vocational School has received a $20,000 grant from Verizon for continued support of the school's language and computer literacy classes for San Francisco Latinos and other minorities who have limited proficiency in English. The grant brings to $60,000 the funding that the school has received from Verizon since 2007 to support literacy programs.

Rosario Anaya, MLVS' executive director, said: "To successfully educate our children, we must also provide training for parents so that they can secure stable employment and have time to dedicate to their children. With the support of this grant, the Verizon Foundation is helping MLVS achieve this goal by serving as a pipeline to vocational training programs in high-growth sectors such as health care and technology."

Support services such as career counseling, job placement assistance and other referral services are an integral part of MLVS' programs. MLVS strives to empower underserved populations and improve the community through social, economic and educational advancements.

Elva Lima, Verizon vice president, strategic programs, said: "As advancements in technology and science continue to transform so many aspects of our society, it is essential that we have a trained and skilled workforce, not only so that we remain competitive in the global market place, but also to ensure we build prosperous and sustainable communities at home."

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.

About Mission Language and Vocational School
Mission Language and Vocational School (MLVS) has been in continuous operation as a community-based education center for over 35 years, administering federal, state, and locally funded programs. Each year the school enrolls over 600 students, and has an annual operating budget of $2.125 million. More than 80% of graduating students continue to be employed after one year, managing to escape the poverty cycle and become self-sufficient, productive individuals in their communities. MLVS's courses are approved by the California Bureau of Post-Secondary Education, and certified by the Eligible Training Provider's List (ETPL). MLVS offers job-specific training programs in office technology, computer networking, computerized accounting, medical assisting, and culinary arts. All classes are taught by certified, experienced instructors. In addition, the school's bi-lingual, multi-cultural staff provides career guidance, counseling, job placement, and referral services for legal, childcare, health, and housing assistance.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: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 more than 86 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 237,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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