Verizon Commits $50,000 Grant; Enlists Employees, Customers to Assist Illinois Tornado Victims

WASHINGTON, Ill., Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon is urging its employees and customers to join in assisting the victims of a late-season tornado outbreak that devastated parts of Illinois on Sunday (Nov. 17).  Verizon has committed a $50,000 grant to the American Red Cross, Central Illinois Chapter, for Tornado Relief to support disaster-relief in the area and the Verizon Foundation will match Verizon employees' donations of $25 or more, up to $1,000 per employee, to the American Red Cross, which helps people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes.   

In addition, Verizon Wireless, working with relief organizations, will activate a text-to-donate program that enables customers to make a $10 donation to the following organizations:

• Text FOOD to 52000 to give to Northern Illinois Food Bank
• Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give to American Red Cross

Text-messaging fees will be waived, and 100 percent of each donation goes directly to the nonprofit organization. Verizon Wireless postpaid customers will see their donations on their next regular monthly bill. For customers using the company's prepaid services, donations will be deducted from their prepaid balances.

"The Nov. 17 tornadoes brutalized communities across a wide swath of Illinois, and many residents need support," said Brian Pascoe, region president, Verizon Wireless. "Verizon, its employees and customers are stepping up on several fronts to help those affected by these storms begin to recover."

Since Monday (Nov. 18), Verizon Wireless has been onsite in the hard-hit community of Washington, providing first responders, customers and the general public with added wireless communications capabilities, including a disaster-relief mobile support unit where customers are able to make calls, charge phones and connect to the Internet. The company also is providing additional wireless support at two Red Cross shelters.

About the Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation helps people to live healthy, safe and independent lives by addressing disparities in education, healthcare and sustainability. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live.  Verizon's employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.8 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information, visit www.verizonfoundation.org. 

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 consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 101 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries. A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 178,300.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon