Verizon Foundation Awarded More Than $3.7 Million in Community Grants in 2010 to Support Nonprofit Organizations in Virginia

Nonprofit groups in Virginia received more than $3.7 million from the Verizon Foundation in 2010.  The majority of the funds went to organizations that support education, domestic violence prevention and Internet safety.

In addition, Verizon employees volunteered more than 53,300 hours to nonprofit groups throughout Virginia in 2010.

"Verizon is driven by its employees to use the innovative power of our technology - and our philanthropic dollars - to address critical social issues," said Robert Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia.  "Our company and employees have a close link that dates back more than a century with the communities we serve.

"We are proud to partner with key nonprofit organizations throughout these communities to be a positive force for change," said Woltz.

Programs and organizations supported by the Verizon Foundation in 2010 include:

• Communities in Schools Virginia, Richmond - $23,000 to conduct statewide Total Quality Systems training sessions to help reduce the dropout rate in Virginia.

• Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, Richmond - $20,000 to support rural programming and promotion of two Virginia Early Childhood symposia to create interest, commitment and support for early childhood efforts.
• SCAN of Northern Virginia, Alexandria - $20,000 to support a public education effort to help individuals, families and community agencies learn about the importance of positive, nurturing parenting, and about the incidence, prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.
• Literacy Volunteers of America, Prince William County, Woodbridge - $15,000 to address adult illiteracy and continue to provide free, quality and individualized adult literacy services.
• Small Business Development Center of Hampton Roads, Norfolk - $23,000 to help small-business owners improve their businesses by providing training classes, materials and individual assistance.
• Brain Injury Services of Southwest Virginia, Roanoke - $19,990 to provide brain injury survivors in rural settings with rehabilitative resources in order to improve overall behavioral, social and vocational skill sets and enhance quality of life for survivors and their families.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours of community service since 2000.  For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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