Verizon Foundation to Make $100,000 Donation to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund to Assist Businesses Impacted by Boardwalk Fire in Seaside Park and Seaside Heights, N.J.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J., Oct. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Verizon Foundation will provide a $100,000 grant to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund to aid the dozens of businesses that faced additional setbacks from Superstorm Sandy recovery due to last month's devastating boardwalk fire in Seaside Park and Seaside Heights.

"In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, Seaside became a symbol of the character and strength of the people along the Jersey Shore," said Leecia Eve, vice president of government affairs for Verizon's New York/New Jersey region. "The rebuilding process has begun in Seaside, and these businesses – recovering not only from the effects of Sandy but from the fire as well – will bounce back. We at Verizon are dedicated to giving back to the communities we serve and where our employees live -- especially during difficult times."

In March, more than 160 employees from the Verizon Leadership Development Program, along with senior leaders from Verizon, participated in a day of volunteer work at Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School in Seaside Heights, which sustained severe flood damage from last October's storm.

The volunteers painted classrooms; removed weeds and planted flowers around the school; built new picnic tables to create an outdoor learning environment; painted planter murals and painted line games on the school's blacktop to be used during recess; and built new benches that were installed along the Seaside Heights boardwalk.

"In times of disaster, we all share a common goal – helping those in need," said Eve.  "Nothing demonstrated that commitment better than how everyone came together to help one another after Sandy devastated the Jersey Shore."

Verizon employees, Verizon Wireless customers and the Verizon Foundation donated more than $6 million to Sandy relief and rebuilding efforts. In addition, more than 7,000 Verizon employees donated to the American Red Cross and Salvation Army through the Verizon Foundation's matching gifts program.

The Verizon Foundation is focused on accelerating social change by using the company's innovative technology to help solve pressing problems in education, healthcare and energy management. 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 about Verizon's philanthropic work, visit www.verizonfoundation.org; or for regular updates, visit the Foundation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/verizonfoundation) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/verizongiving).

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