Verizon Foundation Awarded More Than $2 Million in Community Grants in 2010 to Support Nonprofit Organizations in Florida

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit groups in Florida received $2,158,109 from the Verizon Foundation in 2010. The majority of the funds went to organizations that support education, domestic violence prevention and Internet safety.  

In addition, Verizon's Florida employees volunteered more than 58,000 hours to nonprofit groups throughout the state in 2010.  The funds and employee volunteer efforts were part of a national commitment in 2010 that makes the Verizon Foundation one of the largest corporate foundations in the country.

"Verizon is driven by its employees to use the innovative power of our technology – and our philanthropic dollars -- to address critical social issues," said Michelle Robinson, Verizon's Southeast region president. "We are proud to partner with key nonprofit organizations throughout Florida to be a positive force for change in communities in greatest need."

Programs and organizations supported by the Verizon Foundation in 2010 include:

• The Children's Home, Tampa -- $24,000.  The funds will be used to expand the home's infant, child and family mental health services currently offered only to children in the child welfare system in Hillsborough County.

• Domestic Violence Solutions Awards -- $110,000.  Eleven organizations located throughout the state -- including Naples, West Palm Beach and Winter Haven -- each received $10,000 to support domestic violence prevention efforts such as programs targeted at teen dating violence prevention and helping victims become survivors through economic empowerment.

• Florida State University, Tallahassee -- $50,000.  The university's College of Social Work Institute for Family Violence Studies will use this grant to fund a new project to collaborate with the criminal justice community and prevent domestic violence in law enforcement families.  The program, Law Enforcement Families Partnership, is the first of its kind nationwide.

• Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami -- $10,000.  The funds support Project Learn, which runs concurrently with the Miami-Dade County school year and is designed to meet the children's requirements for homework assistance after school.  Following homework and time in the computer lab to play educational games that sharpen their reading and math skills, the children can participate in various indoor and outdoor physical activities.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours  million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, 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 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