Verizon Employees to Volunteer at Schools in Six States to Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

NEW YORK - Verizon Business employees in six states and the District of Columbia are volunteering their time at local schools in recognition of the Martin Luther King Day of Service. The day is formally observed Monday (Jan. 21), the federal holiday that commemorates the life and legacy of the slain civil rights leader.

Employee groups of 10 to 30, led by Verizon Business community ambassadors, are taking part in a myriad of volunteer activities through Jan. 29.  The activities range from painting walls, to planting gardens, to donating books, to reading and creating art projects with students. Community ambassadors serve as primary points of contact for Verizon Business' Community Investment Program by coordinating local outreach efforts. These efforts continue a long-standing tradition of giving back to the community by Verizon volunteers. Under the Verizon Foundation's Verizon Volunteer initiative, company employees and retirees have contributed more than 3 million hours of community service since Verizon's inception in 2000.

"Whether it's beautifying our science garden, donating books, or reading to our students, Verizon employees have been a continual source of support for our school and students," said Tramy Tran, principal of Forman Elementary School in Plano, Texas.

Verizon Business employees are volunteering at schools in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Chicago, Ill.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Bolton, Miss.; Plano, Texas; Fairfax, Va.; and Washington, D.C.

"MLK Day of Service provides a perfect opportunity for our employees to continue the valuable volunteer work they do throughout the year, whether it's mentoring a child or assisting at a domestic violence shelter," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston. "We are tremendously proud of the generous spirit of our employees who donate their time and resources to these wonderful organizations to make a difference in the communities where they live and work."

Since its inception as a national holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been recognized as a national day of volunteer service, encouraging people to take action to assist their community.

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 fostering 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. Under the Verizon Volunteers initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, the foundation also matched charitable donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $25.1 million in combined contributions. Verizon Volunteers, made up of 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 63.7 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 has a diverse workforce of nearly 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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