Verizon Foundation Awarded More Than $3.3 Million in Community Grants in 2011 to Support Nonprofit Organizations in Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit groups in Pennsylvania received more than $3.3 million from the Verizon Foundation in 2011. The majority of the funds went to organizations that focused on advancing health care, domestic violence prevention, education and sustainability. 

In addition, Verizon employees volunteered nearly 48,000 hours to nonprofit groups throughout the state in 2011. The Verizon Foundation supports employee volunteerism by awarding a $750 grant to a nonprofit organization when a Verizon employee volunteers 50 hours or more to the organization during the year.

"Verizon has always believed that the innovative power of technology can be used to address critical social issues across the commonwealth," said Carl E. Erhart, area vice president for Verizon. "We are proud to partner with key nonprofit organizations throughout Pennsylvania to be a positive force for change in communities in greatest need."

Programs and organizations supported by the Verizon Foundation in 2011 include:

• The Enterprise Center, Philadelphia, for its Pathways to Independence program. 
• Bar Association of Lehigh County, Allentown, for its "Not Behind the Wheel" video, which addresses the dangers of texting and driving. The video received an Emmy award last year from the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
• Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh for The Child Advocacy Center for victims of neglect or physical or sexual abuse.
• Downingtown STEM Academy for the STEM for an Equitable Future program.
• Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, Schwenksville, to implement the conservancy's "My Water -- From Rainwater to Groundwater" youth video contest.

"Thanks to Verizon's generosity, The Child Advocacy Center will host the annual Pittsburgh Conference on Child Maltreatment, which helps a multidisciplinary team approach to intervention in cases of child physical and sexual abuse," said Rob Wittman, case management and conference coordinator, Child Advocacy Center with Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.  "This includes a unified, collaborative response by victims' advocates, law enforcement, the legal system, health care practitioners, attorneys, judges and advocates from across the state.  Participants will then have new tools and knowledge to better respond to familial violence and maltreatment."

Trudy Phillips, director for environmental education at the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, said: "The Conservancy is excited to have this opportunity to work with the Verizon Foundation to create an informed and active youth presence in our 362-square-mile watershed community.  Through the 'My Water - From Rainwater to Groundwater' video contest, the conservancy furthers its goal of preparing youth to make knowledge-based decisions regarding the importance of protecting our finite water resources."

The Verizon Foundation helps people to live healthy, safe and independent lives by addressing disparities in education, health care and sustainability. 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 6.2 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information, 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 consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 109 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 $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 194,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon