Verizon Foundation Provided More Than $3.3 Million in Community Grants in 2011 to Support Nonprofit Organizations in New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit groups in New Jersey 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 64,800 hours to nonprofit groups throughout the Garden 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.

"Through strategic grants and partnerships with nonprofit organizations across New Jersey, Verizon is using the innovative power of our technology to address critical social issues affecting our communities," said Dennis M. Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey. "We are proud to be a positive force for change for those with the greatest needs."

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

• The Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication (IROC2), which has raised awareness of students, educators and parents about negative, irresponsible and malicious digital behaviors and trends, and identified ways to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a cybercrime, bullying or digital exploitation.
• The Bancroft School at Voorhees Pediatric Facility, which serves children ages 3 to 21 with developmental disabilities or brain injuries.  The Verizon grant supported the Distance Learning Program, which provides critical access to learning experiences otherwise not accessible to the students.
• The Princeton University Preparatory Program, which provides a rigorous, academic and cultural enrichment program for high-achieving, low-income high school students from local school districts.  This tuition-free program prepares participants for admission to, and ongoing success within, selective colleges and universities.
• Jersey Battered Women's Services, which provides a psycho-educational program that includes group education and counseling services to help batterers identify their abusive behavior, take responsibility for it and develop new nonabusive skills. Participants in the program learn how they use power and control in their intimate relationships and learn ways to address their anger nonviolently.

"This alliance between the Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication and Verizon is making a positive impact in the lives of many across the state of New Jersey," said Richard Guerry, executive director, IROC2.  "Verizon has made it possible for over 12,000 citizens of New Jersey – primarily students – to become informed and responsible digital citizens in our global village, which is a vital developmental task necessary for everyone who utilizes and relies on evolving digital tools and technologies, regardless of age, race, demo and geo-graphics."

Patty Sly, executive director of Jersey Battered Women's Services, said, "JBWS is grateful to the Verizon Foundation for partnering with us and supporting our work with batterers in our effort to break the cycle of violence."

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