Verizon Joins Alabama Gives Day With $5,000 Grant Toward Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 2, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon is kicking off Alabama Gives Day today with a $5,000 donation from the Verizon Foundation to the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham's Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund. In addition, Verizon Wireless is spreading the word to its employees across the state about the opportunity to give via text.

The Community Foundation is making it possible for residents to support those impacted by the April 2011 tornadoes as well as the storms that hit the state in January by texting their donation of $10 to the Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund on Alabama Gives Day. Simply text CHANGE CFGB to 84465 to give.* Donations may also be made to the Community Foundation or any of the hundreds of participating nonprofits statewide at www.alabamagivesday.org.

Today's contribution to the Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund continues Verizon's commitment to rebuilding Alabama following the devastating storms that swept the state,  ultimately touching 43 counties, in April 2011. Verizon gave $250,000 to the Community Foundation for statewide tornado recovery in June 2011 as presenting sponsor of "BAMA Rising: A Benefit Concert For Alabama Tornado Recovery." Spearheaded by top-selling supergroup Alabama, BAMA Rising featured performances from Brad Paisley, Sara Evans and Sheryl Crow and raised more than $2 million for long-term recovery.

"The tornadoes that hit Alabama on January 23 were a painful reminder of lives lost and homes destroyed last April, and they left yet another long list of Alabamians hurting," said Jonathan LeCompte, president of the Georgia/Alabama region for Verizon Wireless. "Our hope is that Verizon's participation in Alabama Gives Day will inspire individuals across the state to be a part of it as well by contributing to the Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund or any one of the many other deserving organizations that are participating."

Kate Nielsen, president of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, said her organization applauds Verizon for its participation in Alabama Gives Day and believes that corporate donations like this are needed in order to inspire widespread community participation.

"Verizon is already so involved in helping meet the long-term needs of tornado survivors, and they are again demonstrating how much they care for our community with this contribution," she said.

For more information on Alabama Gives Day or to participate with a contribution to your non-profit of choice, go to www.alabamagivesday.org.

*Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Must be 18 years of age or have parental permission to participate. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 84465 to STOP. Text HELP to 84465 for HELP. Full Terms: mGive.org/T. Privacy Policy.

About Verizon Foundation

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.

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 consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 107 million total 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, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $106.6 billion in 2010 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

SOURCE Verizon