Verizon Named to USO-Metro's Circle of Stars

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon has been recognized by the USO of Metropolitan Washington and named to USO-Metro's 2011 Circle of the Stars. This is the inaugural year for this elite award, bestowed on the top-level corporate donors that provide generous funding to support USO-Metro's mission to serve those who serve -- military service members and their families.

Verizon was among the honorees receiving the award on Friday (Oct. 28) at the 8th Annual Stars & Stripes Casino Night, an annual fundraiser that brings together USO-Metro supporters, members of the business community, wounded heroes from area military hospitals, and local celebrities. The focus of the event -- as with every USO-Metro event -- was on support for the service members and their families, and the broad spectrum of programs USO-Metro provides for the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Circle of Stars presentation was the centerpiece of the gala, highlighting the critical value of corporate supporters such as Verizon.

"We are so honored and humbled that Verizon is an active and generous supporter of USO-Metro," said Elaine Rogers, president of the USO of Metropolitan Washington. "This past year, USO-Metro touched the lives of more than 500,000 service members and their families. We couldn't provide the broad range of programs we deliver without the generous and incredible support of Verizon and our other corporate donors."

Verizon provides financial support to the USO lounges at four Washington D.C.-area airports -- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport as well as Joint Base Andrews, which was added this year.  Verizon also is providing troops using the lounges with free phone calling anywhere in the world via wireless phones using Verizon voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) service and has donated four iPads along with a supply of mobile phone chargers for troops and their families to use while visiting the lounges.

"Verizon is committed to support the work of the USO," said Susan Zeleniak, group president for Verizon Federal.  "Establishing these lounges at the Washington airports is a continuation in the company's long history of support to the U.S. armed forces and their families. Helping the courageous women and men who serve in the U.S. military stay connected while they are traveling is a gesture of appreciation for the sacrifices that they make every day.''

For a complete list of the Circle of Stars recipients, visit: www.usometro.org/corporate

About USO-Metro

The USO of Metropolitan Washington is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization chartered by Congress and dedicated to "Serving those who serve, and their families" in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia.  It is through the generous financial support of individuals and organizations in the local community that USO-Metro is able to fulfill its mission. With the help of nearly 5,000 devoted volunteers, USO-Metro provides programs and services for active duty service members and their families at area military hospitals; through its Mobile USO program; at five USO Centers; four USO airport lounges and through Operation USO Care Package. For more information, please visit www.usometro.org.

About Verizon

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 more than 107 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 $106.6 billion in 2010 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon