Verizon Wireless Delivers $1.2 Million Check to Complete $1.5 Million Pledge to National Law Enforcement Museum

WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Verizon Wireless delivered the final installment of a $1.5 million grant to the National Law Enforcement Museum.  The $1.2 million check, presented by Verizon Wireless Regional President Mike Maiorana and Mark Harris, Vice President, Federal Government Sales, follows an earlier $300,000 donation given last year.  The funds, provided by Verizon's philanthropic arm, the Verizon Foundation, will be used to create educational and interactive technology programs at the new museum, to break ground this fall in the nation's capital.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100507/NE01573 )

"This month, we'll commemorate National Police Week, and I can't think of a better way to mark that occasion than by delivering a check for $1.2 million dollars to the group responsible for building what promises to be the world's most comprehensive museum of law enforcement," said Mike Maiorana.  "The educational programs we're funding will include an emphasis on domestic violence prevention, an issue of enormous importance to Verizon Wireless' 81,000 employees nationwide."  

Verizon Wireless works with law enforcement and government agencies to support domestic violence prevention and awareness efforts in communities nationwide.  Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected seven million no-longer-used wireless phones and donated nearly $8 million dollars to domestic violence prevention agencies and organizations through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine ® phone recycling program.  The phones – from any carrier, in any condition – are collected in Verizon Wireless stores nationwide and in special collections, often organized with the help of law enforcement officers.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is spearheading the construction of the National Law Enforcement Museum.  Craig W. Floyd, chairman of the fund, said:  "The Verizon Foundation grant will fund the development of interactive learning tools and educational programs that will enhance the museum experience and meet national standards of learning in history, civics, science and math."

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About the Verizon Foundation

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 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 $26.1 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 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America's law enforcement officers. The NLEOMF maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 18,983 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now leading the effort to build the first-ever National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless