Verizon Foundation Offers Grant Opportunities to California Nonprofit Groups

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is seeking grant proposals for projects that help solve problems of domestic violence and inadequate health care in low-income and minority communities. The proposals should take advantage of telecommunications technology to address these problems.

Verizon will provide competitive grants totaling $500,000 to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in California, especially in communities where Verizon provides local telephone service.

"Verizon builds stronger communities by supporting programs that serve the needs of people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence and the economically and socially disadvantaged," said LaVerne Davis, vice president of external affairs for Verizon in California. "Verizon's belief in the importance of corporate social responsibility is demonstrated by our long history of supporting organizations that have a positive impact on people's lives."

The Verizon Foundation seeks funding proposals from nonprofits that help the victims of domestic violence, or provide health care with the support of telemedicine and other communications technology. The organizations must benefit either low-income, minority, limited-English speaking or disabled communities. Applicants must also be public or private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a valid Internal Revenue Service tax ID.

Proposals must be submitted through Verizon Foundation's Web site, www.verizon.com/foundation. The deadline is midnight May 13. On the Web site, applicants should click on the Southern California RFP link; type in the invitation code for this RFP, 747PEWRXKP, when logging in; and then select "local." Individual grants will range from $25,000 to $100,000.

Grants cannot be used to purchase any products or services offered by Verizon, nor can they be used for capital renovations or furniture.

The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. In 2004, the foundation awarded more than 26,000 grants totaling more than $70 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, enriching communities through technology, and creating a skilled work force. The foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the economically and socially disadvantaged.

The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer 528,000 hours in their communities and provided $37.6 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 210,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline telecommunications services, including broadband and other services. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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