Bell Atlantic Employee Earmarks $5,000 Award to Benefit Maryland Charities

Bell Atlantic Employee Earmarks $5,000 Award to Benefit Maryland Charities

Inner-City Youth Volunteer Continues Good Deeds with Gifts to Local Groups

June 2, 1997

BALTIMORE -- Jacqueline G. Streat has made it her mission to make a
difference in the lives of young people in Baltimore's inner city. A
mother with four children of her own, the Bell Atlantic-Maryland
employee is dedicated to giving youngsters in her community a leg up
on their futures.

Recently, Bell Atlantic Chairman and CEO Ray Smith recognized Streat
for her personal commitment to the community by presenting her the
1997 Spirit of Excellence Chairman's Award. As part of her award, she
also earmarked a $5,000 charitable gift from the Bell Atlantic
Foundation to several Maryland youth organizations.

"I love helping young people because I see a very valuable asset to
our society; I see our future attorneys, doctors, CEOs, technicians,
corporate managers, and professional athletes," said Streat.

With help from Bell Atlantic, Streat founded a mentoring program to
prepare high school students for college and careers. Since 1990, her
program has provided hundreds of Baltimore public high school students
the opportunity to spend time with adult mentors, hear guest speakers
and take field trips. The activities are designed to help build their
self-esteem, instill values and broaden their horizons.

Charities chosen by Streat to receive Bell Atlantic Foundation
contributions are: the Chesapeake Center for Youth Development Inc.,
Baltimore, $1,000; Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Maryland,
Baltimore, $1,000; the Mentoring Resource Center-Raise Inc.,
Baltimore, $1,200; and the Maryland Parks Foundation, Annapolis,
$1,800.

"I felt honored to give the proceeds of the award to charitable
organizations that help in developing young people," said Streat.
"Young people are faced with many perils in today's society and they
really need our assistance. I feel a personal commitment to do what I
can do to help our children."

Streat, a senior engineer in Bell Atlantic network operations, was
recognized by Smith in a company ceremony for "raising the bar for all
of us, for making a difference, and for adding prestige to the Bell
Atlantic name."

Last year, Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke presented Streat a
commendation citing her contributions to the civic welfare of the
city. But according to Streat, the success of her students is reward
enough.

She received her B.S. degree from Virginia State University in
Petersburg and her Masters equivalent in Business Administration from
Morgan State in Baltimore.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.