Verizon to Be Named to USO of Metropolitan Washington's Circle of Stars for Second Consecutive Year

ASHBURN, Va., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The USO of Metropolitan Washington will name Verizon to its Circle of Stars for the second consecutive year.  The USO-Metro Circle of Stars elite award recognizes corporate donors that support the USO's important programs for military service members and their families.

Verizon will be among the honorees recognized by the USO of Metropolitan Washington at the organization's 9^th Annual Stars and Stripes Night, a yearly fundraiser that brings together USO-Metro supporters, members of the business community, wounded heroes from local military hospitals and local celebrities.  The fundraiser and award ceremony takes place tonight (Oct. 11) at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel.

"The generous support of corporate donors such as Verizon enables USO-Metro to provide vital programs to service members and their loved ones," said Elaine Rogers, president of the USO of Metropolitan Washington.  "As a long-term supporter of USO-Metro, Verizon exemplifies our core mission of lifting the spirits of military service members and their families while they do the hard work of protecting our country."

Verizon provides financial support for USO lounges at four Washington, D.C.-area airports: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Joint Base Andrews.  The USO lounges offer a relaxing environment for deploying troops and their families to gather and feature free worldwide calling using Verizon's Voice over Internet Protocol service.  Verizon has also equipped the lounges with complimentary tablet computers and mobile phone chargers. 

The Verizon Corporate Responsibility website contains additional information on the company's support for military personnel and veterans.

"The support the USO of Metropolitan Washington provides to this nation's military personnel and their families is invaluable," said Susan Zeleniak, senior vice president – public sector markets, Verizon Enterprise Solutions.  "Verizon shares in the commitment of USO-Metro, and our support of the airport lounges and complimentary communications services to keep families connected is a small token of appreciation for the courageous efforts of those who serve in the U.S. military."

Verizon is a leading provider of advanced IT and communications services to governments around the world.  Visit the Verizon Public Sector website for more information.

About USO of Metropolitan Washington

USO-Metro 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 troops 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 or "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter by searching USO-Metro.

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 94 million retail customers 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 more than 188,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon