Teacher Appreciation Week Is the Perfect Time to Thank Teachers and Remind Them of the Free, Time-Saving Educational Resources Available on Thinkfinity.org

NEW YORK - Each week, teachers spend hours pouring over textbooks, lesson plans and other materials to create course work that captures the imagination of their students.

As parents, students and communities take time this week, Teacher Appreciation Week, to thank teachers for the wonderful work they do, it's also an ideal time to remind them of the tremendous time- and money-saving educational resources available through thinkfinity.org - all for free.

Thinkfinity.org is the perfect Web tool for teachers looking for a quick and innovative way to find compelling lesson plans and interactive learning tools to engage today's students.

Thinkfinity.org is the Verizon Foundation's free, comprehensive program and online portal to 55,000 educational resources, including standards-based, grade-specific, K-12 lesson plans and engaging interactive activities provided in partnership with many of the nation's leading educational and literacy organizations. And, Thinkfinity.org requires no downloadable software.

"Teachers are often our unsung heroes, working hours outside of the classroom and often spending their own money on supplies, to prepare the best possible lesson plans to engage their students," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston. "We truly appreciate the dedication and effort our teachers put forth to help our children develop the skills they need to succeed.

"Through Thinkfinity.org, we're hopeful that we can do our part to help make the lives of teachers easier," Gaston said.

From science to English to mathematics, Thinkfinity.org offers help to teachers from elementary school through high school, across eight academic disciplines, to improve student achievement.

In addition to offering free access to 55,000 educational resources, Thinkfinity.org also offers a comprehensive professional development program that allows teachers to sign up for free online to learn how to best make use of the Thinkfinity.org tools.

Content for Thinkfinity is provided through a partnership between the Verizon Foundation and  11 of the nation's leading organizations in the fields of education and literacy: the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the International Reading Association, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Center for Family Literacy, National Council on Economic Education, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Council of Teachers of English, National Council of  Teachers of Mathematics, National Geographic Society, ProLiteracy Worldwide and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its signature program, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2007, the foundation awarded more than $67.4 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $25.1 million in combined contributions. 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 Verizon's inception in 2000.

For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

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 67 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 employed a diverse workforce of approximately 232,000 as of the end of the first quarter 2008 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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