Verizon and the Asian Pacific Community Fund Offering $20,000 in Scholarships to Students in California, Oregon and Washington

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Asian Pacific Community Fund-Verizon Scholarship Awards Program is offering $20,000 in scholarships to 20 students in California, Oregon and Washington who excel academically, are leaders among their peers, and are making a positive impact in their communities.

The program, which will award a $1,000 scholarship to each recipient, is now accepting applications from students in their first year of college.  Eight scholarships will be awarded in May.  The application deadline is March 30.

Applications can be submitted online or via regular postal service.  Instructions are available at the Scholarship Programs page of the APCF website (www.apcf.org).

"Verizon and the Asian Pacific Community Fund are both committed to supporting Asian communities here in the West and across the country," said Gene Eng, vice president of strategic programs for Verizon.  "We believe that investing in the academic achievement and community involvement of student leaders today will deliver valuable social and cultural returns to the communities we serve in the future."

The 12 other scholarships will be awarded to seven high school seniors and five third-year college students.  Applications from high school seniors will be accepted from April to June of this year, with a submission deadline of June 30.  The applications period for third-year college students will begin in July and will conclude on Oct. 31.

About the Asian Pacific Community Fund

Established in 1990, APCF is a community-based, nonprofit fund that was created to educate and encourage individuals and companies to support API communities in need by donating through workplace giving programs.  The organization is the only API community-based fund of its kind in Southern California.  Since its founding, APCF has raised and distributed over $2 million in unrestricted grants to its 29 Affiliate Agencies providing services to the API community.  APCF Affiliate Agencies serve over 250,000 people annually with programs and services provided in a total of 27 Asian languages plus English and Spanish.  Programs include childcare/youth programs, affordable housing, counseling & case management, healthcare, job development & training, legal services, senior services, violence prevention and much more.  For additional information please visit www.apcf.org.

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 94.1 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 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon