Verizon Employees in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Donate More Than $7,200 in Supplies to Assist Area Schools

BALTIMORE, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon employees at 16 work locations in Maryland and Washington, D.C. collected more than $7,200 worth of items to donate to 13 elementary schools during a recent "Tools for School" drive.

Elementary schools in Maryland receiving the school supplies include Bladensburg, City Springs, Concord, Dogwood, Francis Scott Key, Highland, Laurel Woods, Pleasant Plains, Rolling Terrace and Rosa L. Parks.  In the District of Columbia, elementary school recipients include Harriet Tubman, Raymond and Seaton.

Employees at nearly 300 Verizon locations throughout the country took part in the campaign to collect new pens and pencils, rulers, crayons, backpacks and other items children need to start the school year.  

In all, employees donated more than $300,000 worth of supplies to more than 250 schools and nonprofits across the U.S., with a specific focus on schools with a large number of students in need.  

The public was invited to join the effort by making an online donation through DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit organization that allows contributors to donate to a myriad of education projects at public schools throughout the country.

"Verizon employees are thrilled to provide students with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom," said William R. Roberts, president of Verizon in Maryland and Washington, D.C.  "Whether it's by providing free creative educational games, videos and lesson plans through Thinkfinity.org or volunteering to assist in the classroom, Verizon is committed to using our resources and technology to help children reach their full potential."

Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org) is a comprehensive educational website that contains tens of thousands of free educational resources to make learning fun and improve educational achievement.  Parent-friendly resources, in-class activities and homework help can be found quickly and searched by grade level, keyword or subject.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 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 $26.1 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 5 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 more than 92 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 last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon