Verizon Foundation Provided More Than $2.9 Million in Community Grants in 2010 to Support Nonprofit Organizations in Maryland and the Nation's Capital

BALTIMORE, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit groups in Maryland and Washington, D.C., received more than $2.9 million from the Verizon Foundation in 2010.  The majority of the funds went to organizations that support education, domestic violence prevention and health care accessibility.

In addition, Verizon employees volunteered nearly 60,000 hours to nonprofit groups throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia in 2010.

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

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

Maryland

• Community College of Baltimore County, for its Reading for Success Program, which helps students increase reading comprehension skills so they can be successful in college-level classes.
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County, for its Violence Prevention Advocates Program, which educates and trains students, faculty and staff on specific relationship violence prevention information.
• CASA of Maryland, for its ESOL (English as a second language) for Low-Income Immigrants Program, which improves participants' listening, reading, speaking and writing skills.
• Holy Cross Hospital, for its Virtual Patient Care Project, which allows the use of Web-based technology to bring medical experts and educators together to assess the needs of all patients.
• YWCA of Annapolis/Anne Arundel County, for its Abuser Intervention Program aimed at ensuring that individuals will not become victims of domestic violence.
• Teach for America Baltimore, for its Literacy Initiative, which trains educators in cutting-edge literacy skills and techniques.

D.C.

• District Alliance for Safe Housing, for the Verizon Wellness Center located in the organization's newly renovated emergency housing facility, which serves women and their families fleeing domestic violence situations.
• University of the District of Columbia, to support scholarships for needy students and the development of those students under the Verizon Scholars Program.
• District of Columbia Public Education Fund, for its Standing Ovation Program, which recognizes outstanding D.C. public school teachers.
• Byte Back, to support its computer literacy programs that serve low-income students and families throughout the District.
• My Sister's Place, to fund the Verizon 24-Hour DV Hotline and Communications Center – an integral part of a newly designed Sanctuary Place, which serves as a safe place for victims of domestic violence and their families.
• Latin American Youth Center, to support its computer literacy program.

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 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