Verizon Foundation 'eGrants' Help Nonprofits Bridge the Digital Divide

NEW YORK - Nonprofit organizations who need funds to help pay for Internet access can now turn to Verizon Foundation. The philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications is offering ''eGrants'' of $240 to eligible nonprofits.

''This grant program will enable small nonprofit organizations to access online resources -- including e-mail, chat rooms and Web searches -- and to expand their fundraising efforts online,'' said Gale Cirigliano, director of eSolutions and technology programs for Verizon Foundation.

Although eGrants are intended for nonprofit organizations with annual budgets under $500,000, any 501 (c)(3) may apply by selecting an Internet service provider (ISP) and applying online at For more information on e-Grants, please visit the The Verizon Foundation Web site. Application forms also are available via fax by calling 1-800-360-7955.

Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to explore Verizon Foundation's Web site, where they will find a comprehensive technology resource guide with links to more than 350 online resources supporting technology applications and a series of technology success stories.

The Web site also includes grant guidelines, an online grant eligibility quiz and a technology-needs-assessment section to help nonprofit organizations in applying for grants online.

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 for nonprofit organizations.

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 112 million access line equivalents and 27 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $65 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.

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