Verizon Awards $20,000 to COFEM to Help With Technology-Based Communications Project

LOS ANGELES - Verizon Tuesday (Jan. 30) awarded $20,000 to the Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas en Norte America (COFEM) to support the implementation of educational and communication tools to overcome challenges in the Latino community.

This grant from the Verizon Foundation will support the implementation of an improved technology-based communications project that will strengthen the links between many Latino community-based organizations in the COFEM network. The grant will also help revamp the COFEM Web site, which informs the community about programs, services, events, and other important issues.

COFEM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the welfare of Latino immigrants. COFEM uses a community-centered approach to advance the interests of the Latino community through public policy, advocacy, educational and cultural programming, strategic mobilization, community organizing and binational development.

In the course of these activities, COFEM has encountered communications challenges between leaders and members they represent as a result of limited computer and Internet use.

"We thank Verizon for this generous grant as it will foster and improve the communication capacity of our members and leaders to maximize the work they do to improve the lives of the Latino community in California," said COFEM President Juan Moreno.

Tim McCallion, president of Verizon's West region, said, "Literacy, domestic violence prevention and technology access are the underpinnings of all our grant-making. Verizon is fully committed to supporting organizations that are making inroads in these important areas."

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is committed to improving literacy and K-12 education; fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence; and promoting the use of technology in health-care delivery.  In 2006, the foundation awarded more than $69 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched charitable donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $29 million in combined contributions. Under the foundation's Verizon Volunteer initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, company employees and retirees have also contributed nearly 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 59 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 242,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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