ATLANTA, GA — The National Youth Challenge Inc. (NYC) today announced that Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless carrier, will present the NYC with a $10,000 grant to support the NYC's Youth Economic Literacy and Workforce Development Program. The donation will be given during an 11:00 a.m. presentation at Paschal's Restaurant, 180-A Northside Drive, Atlanta, GA 30313. Immediately following the presentation, students in the program will learn appropriate business and dining etiquette taught by Paschal's award winning staff.
This program initiative teaches youth and young adults the fundamentals of managing their finances and provides them with life skills essential for success in any field. According to Samuel T. Jackson, chairman of the Economic Empowerment Initiative, "We hope that more young people can be exposed to financial literacy and apply the life skills learned to future decisions such as finding a job, owning a home, paying for higher education, starting a business, and managing investments."
The aim of this program is to prepare students for the job market through personal financial literacy. Rising credit card debt, increasing personal bankruptcies, and diminishing savings all point to a lack of basic economic literacy. Through partnerships in education, government and business, the NYC works to make economics an essential part of the higher education and workforce development process for students in the metropolitan Atlanta community. Jackson adds, "We are extremely grateful to Verizon Wireless for their continuous support of our organization, and their leadership role in helping get young people prepared to face the job market."
"Verizon Wireless values the communities it serves and aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of area residents with company-led initiatives such as philanthropic grants to worthy organizations and HopeLine, a phone donation program to help victims of domestic violence," said Jim McGean, president of Georgia and Alabama for Verizon Wireless. "We applaud the work of the National Youth Challenge which enhances the value of community life and prepares young people for the future."
About the National Youth Challenge
The National Youth Challenge, a domestic, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization recognized by the IRS as a 501(c) 3 corporation, is the research and education fund of the National Youth Connection. Committed to mentoring, tutoring, citizenship education, issue advocacy, peer counseling, leadership training and other such concepts, the "Challenge" is on track to empower America's young people.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 33.3 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.
####