Verizon Foundation Offers $1 Million in Grants to California Nonprofit Groups

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in California are invited to compete for $1 million in grants offered by Verizon Foundation this year.

Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, is soliciting grant applications from non-profits that are pursuing projects in literacy and work-force development. Interested organizations and institutions should apply online through the Verizon Website at www.verizon.com/foundation.

To qualify for funding, applicants must be classified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a valid Internal Revenue Service tax ID. Schools must have a current National Center for Education Statistics school and district registration to qualify.

Verizon Foundation will give strong preference to projects that meet the following criteria:
• Offer an innovative program that meets the literacy or work-force development needs of the community.

• Benefit communities served by Verizon's landline (non-wireless) business.

• Assist nonprofits in serving diverse racial and ethnic communities, people with disabilities and other under-served groups.

"We encourage nonprofit organizations that meet our funding criteria to apply online," said Tim McCallion, President, Verizon Pacific Region. "Verizon wants to recognize as many deserving groups as possible. We anticipate this highly competitive process will yield high quality proposals and help us support nonprofits that enrich our communities in California."

Verizon Foundation accepts proposals only through its Website. Mailed or faxed proposals will not be accepted. Proposals for literacy and work-force development grants are due by midnight, May 10, 2002, and recipients will tentatively be announced September 4, 2002. Eligible nonprofits may be considered for grants ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.

Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is committed to helping Verizon employees, customers and the communities in which they work and live make progress every day. The 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. 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 on the foundation, 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 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.