The Verizon Foundation's Thinkfinity.org Launches Campaign to Train 1,000 Teachers in June

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - The Verizon Foundation's Thinkfinity.org has launched a campaign to train 1,000 teachers this month.  In a hands-on webinar, teachers will learn to navigate and make the most of the thousands of free educational resources on Verizon Thinkfinity.org.

The free 60-minute online, interactive professional-development session will be offered every weekday through June 26, with additional sessions set for Saturday, June 20. Teachers interested in taking part in one of the sessions can register online at http://tims.thinkfinity.org/CourseSessions/AttendeeSignIn.aspx?CourseID=56  or by going to www.thinkfinity.org and clicking on the free training link and selecting "educator webinar."

Thinkfinity.org is the Verizon Foundation's free, comprehensive Web site that saves teachers time and money by providing thousands of free educational resources including K-12 lesson plans, online educational activities, videos and other materials to enhance teacher effectiveness and improve student achievement.

Verizon Thinkfinity.org professional-development is aligned to the International Society for Technology in Education's (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). ISTE is a nonprofit membership organization that provides leadership and service to improve teaching, learning and school leadership by advancing the effective use of technology in prekindergarten through twelfth grade and in teacher education.

"At a time when many school districts are facing difficult budget decisions, Verizon's Thinkfinity.org can be part of the solution, providing professional-development opportunities for teachers and opening the doors to an online world of thousands of standards-based educational resources, all for free," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston.

Verizon Thinkfinity.org is also a professional-development affiliate of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, a leading advocacy organization that brings together the business community, education leaders and policy makers to define a powerful vision for 21st century education to ensure every child's success as citizens and workers by providing tools and resources.

Content for Thinkfinity.org is provided through a partnership between the Verizon Foundation and 11 of the nation's leading organizations in the fields of education and literacy: the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Council for Economic Education, International Reading Association, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Center for Family Literacy, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Council of Teachers of English, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, National Geographic Society, ProLiteracy and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2008, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $68 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 3 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: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 more than 86 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 237,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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