Verizon Supports North Texas Literacy Program

IRVING, Texas - Literacy efforts in North Texas will benefit from a $50,000 grant Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, has presented Literacy Instruction for Texas (LIFT). Verizon provided the grant at the grand opening of LIFT's new Dallas offices at 2121 Main St. last week.

The Verizon grant will support LIFT's comprehensive plan to double the amount of adult students the organization serves over the next three to five years and will expand family literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at satellite locations.

"In the past year, LIFT has helped more than 2,000 low- literate adults in North Texas learn how to read and write - but it's not enough to keep pace with the number of people who need help. This grant will help LIFT teach basic literacy skills to hundreds of new students in our communities," said Steve Banta, Verizon Southwest Region president. "Verizon understands the importance of a literate workforce as a key for future economic growth both for the individual as well as our communities."

Nationwide, Verizon Foundation last year awarded 22,000 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 more than 500,000 hours in their communities and provided $27.8 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

Verizon Communications

A Fortune 10 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $67 billion in revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with more than 139 million access line equivalents and 36 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with nearly 16 million long-distance lines. The company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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