Verizon Employees, Foundation Support India Quake Relief Effort

NEW YORK - Employees of Verizon Communications have donated nearly $100,000 to support relief efforts in northwestern India following January's devastating earthquake. Verizon Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm, is matching their donations. As a result, almost $200,000 has been contributed to United Way International, targeted toward India earthquake relief efforts.

"News reports and images of the human impact of the horrific earthquake in India have pulled at the heartstrings of many Verizon employees and customers," said Soraya Rodriguez, director of employee programs for the foundation.

Among those affected by the recent earthquake was Rohan Derasari, a senior technical staff member for Verizon in Waltham, Mass., whose parents, friends and family members were in the area when the quake hit. Said Derasari, "Thanks to the outpouring of support from Verizon employees, and Verizon Foundation's generosity in matching their donations, much needed relief is on the way to help those whose lives have been shattered."

The Asian Focus Group, an employee organization, joined forces with the foundation and Verizon's employee communications group to publicize the fund-raising efforts and to spur employee giving.

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. The foundation promotes partnerships in technology with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, and the economically and socially disadvantaged across the United States and selected foreign countries. The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that encourages Verizon employees to volunteer in their communities and provides matching gifts to nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/foundation on the Internet.

###

Verizon Communications

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 nearly 109 million access line equivalents and more than 27.5 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the world's largest provider of print and online directory information. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $63 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.