Verizon Foundation Awarded More Than $736,000 in Community Grants in 2010 to Support Nonprofit Organizations in Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit groups in Delaware received more than $736,000 from the Verizon Foundation in 2010. The majority of the funds went to organizations that support education, domestic violence prevention and Internet safety.

In addition, Verizon employees volunteered more than 3,200 hours to nonprofit groups throughout the state in 2010.

"Verizon is driven by its employees to use the innovative power of our technology – and our philanthropic dollars -- to address critical social issues," said William R. Allan, president of Verizon Delaware. "We are proud to partner with key nonprofit organizations throughout Delaware to be a positive force for change in communities in greatest need."

Programs and organizations supported by the Verizon Foundation in 2010 include:

• The University of Delaware, to develop a first-of-its-kind domestic violence certificate curriculum at the Department of Women's Studies.  
• Christiana Care Health System forensic nurse examiners program and the work it does in assisting victims of domestic abuse.
• The Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League's Achievement Matters program, which is working with middle school students to close the achievement gap.
• The Wilmington Montessori School, to provide the computers and the training needed to bring the power of Thinkfinity.org to the school's students. Thinkfinity.org is the Verizon Foundation's free K-12 educational website.  

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 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 94.1 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 employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon