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Verizon Awards $10,000 for Youth Entrepreneurship Program

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) New York Metro program office today announced that it has received a $10,000 grant from Verizon for its Adopt-a-Class fund.

The grant will provide NFTE's highly experiential and academic entrepreneurship program to a class of students at Eagle Academy and a class at Bronx Aerospace High School. Through the Adopt-a-Class Fund, corporations and individuals can support the full NFTE experience for an entire class of young people. Supporters can engage in volunteer opportunities with the students, as well as receive letters from students and progress updates throughout the year.

NFTE teaches young people in middle and high schools how to create a business plan based on an original idea, and along the way reinforces critical skills such as reading, writing, math, critical thinking and problem solving. NFTE's goal is to reengage young people in learning and keep them on a path towards high school graduation.

Said April Horton , Verizon director of Community and External Affairs, "This grant is consistent with Verizon's commitment of supporting the communities we serve. Our young people are our greatest asset, and helping them to get started in life and their careers goes a long way to building stronger communities."

"Partners like Verizon are so important to the success of our programs," said Amy Rosen , President & CEO of NFTE. "At NFTE we believe that entrepreneurship education can serve as a key strategy for ensuring that all students graduate from high school ready for college and a successful career. When young people learn to accept challenges as opportunities, they are empowered with the resilience to succeed at the collegiate level and beyond."

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: 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 93 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

About the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

Too many young people today drop out of school and struggle to break the cycle of poverty. Since 1987, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has been inspiring young people to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses, and succeed in life. By providing entrepreneurship education programs relevant to the real world, NFTE empowers students to find their own paths to success. Hundreds of thousands of students have discovered opportunity all around them through entrepreneurship via thousands of certified educators worldwide. NFTE supports active programs in 21 states and 10 countries through our network of program offices and licensed partners. For more information, visit www.nfte.com.

SOURCE Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship