Verizon to Donate More than 2,500 Books To Charleston's Family Enrichment Center

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Volunteers from Verizon will deliver more than 2,500 books to Parents As Teachers at Charleston's Family Enrichment Center (1701 Fifth Ave.) tomorrow (March 5) at 9 a.m.

The donation caps a successful 'Season's Readings' campaign, in which Verizon employees and retirees throughout the state donated nearly 4,000 books to promote literacy. Additional book donations will be made to non-profit agencies in other parts of West Virginia over the next few weeks.

"I couldn't be prouder of our employees," said Gale Given, president of Verizon West Virginia. "They responded with their hearts, as they always do when they're called upon to lend a hand. Their effort was truly outstanding!"

Verizon contributors in the state donated, on average, more than one book per employee.

Verizon's book drive was the centerpiece of a nationwide Season's Readings literacy initiative from Nov. 29 through the end of December. In West Virginia, the company collected books at 11 locations, including the company's state headquarters in Charleston. Similar efforts took place at other Verizon locations from Maine to Hawaii.

West Virginia First Lady Sandy Wise, who helped kick off the Verizon campaign in the state, echoed Given's sentiment.

"Verizon should be deeply proud of its employees for embracing this worthwhile effort," Wise said. "It's obvious that the employees of Verizon genuinely care about their neighbors and the communities in which they live."

In addition to the book drive, Verizon employees were asked to pledge their time to read to a child. As a part of the campaign, Verizon employees in West Virginia pledged more than 4,400 hours of time to read to others.

Season's Readings is part of Verizon's overall commitment to leading the effort to increase U.S. literacy levels. Through its signature Verizon Reads program and the Verizon Literacy Network, Verizon works to increase community and corporate awareness, raise funds, encourage collaboration among literacy providers and engage employees in supporting literacy programs. For more information on Verizon Reads, visit www.verizonreads.com.

Verizon Foundation supports a variety of programs that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, bridging the digital divide, enriching communities through technology and creating a skilled work force. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation on the Internet.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 132.1 million access line equivalents and 29.4 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 247,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

####