• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Nonprofits in South Carolina Received Nearly $150,000 in 2008 From the Verizon Foundation

Posted on: Thursday, 19 March 2009, 12:43 CDT

Funds Helped Support Education, Literacy and Domestic Violence Prevention Initiatives

COLUMBIA, S.C., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 100 nonprofit groups in South Carolina received nearly $150,000 from the Verizon Foundation in 2008. The grants have enabled the recipient organizations to improve basic literacy skills, create new and diverse approaches to technology-based learning, including Internet safety programs, and help domestic violence survivors rebuild their lives.

In addition, through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retires volunteered more than 3,000 hours to support nonprofit groups in 2008.

"Verizon has a long-standing tradition of working to improve the communities where we live and work by supporting organizations that strive to make a difference in the lives of individuals," said Stan Bugner, Verizon's vice president for state government affairs. "Through grants and the generous contributions of time and talent from our employees, we are having a positive impact on our communities."

Among the grants that Verizon awarded in 2008, and the recipients, are:

• Donors Choose -- $5,000 to support innovative literacy classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org.

• South Carolina Afterschool Alliance -- $5,000 to support training and technical assistance and integrate literacy and technology into after-school programs across the state.

• Horry County Schools Adult Education -- $8,000 to provide educators and students in the adult literacy program with an updated classroom and new software and computers, which are needed to prepare students for working and living in the 21st century.

• I-Safe America Inc. -- $5,000 for a partnership between Verizon South Carolina and I-Safe, which fosters a climate that supports and promotes safety and security online.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2008, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $68 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26 million in combined contributions to nonprofits. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 3 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 80 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category