Verizon Awards $1 Million in Grants To Non-Profit Organizations throughout California

PACOIMA, Calif. - Verizon Communications reaffirmed its commitment to improving literacy and technology education in California by awarding $1 million in grants to 20 non-profit groups. The donations came from Verizon Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm.

Verizon announced the grants today at Pacoima Elementary School during the launch of the Valley Family Technology Project, which is receiving $200,000 of the Verizon Foundation grants.

The Valley Family Technology Project, created under the leadership of Los Angeles City Council President Alex Padilla, has built and wired a computer lab at the school. In addition, teachers, students and parents will be trained to use the lab, and some 300 low-income families in the community will receive home computers and Internet access.

"The prosperity of our cities and our state relies heavily upon cultivating a literate, well-educated and technologically fluent community," said Tim McCallion, president of Verizon's Pacific Region. "Our $1 million commitment to literacy and technology education underscores our long-standing goal of improving the communities we serve and is matched by our commitment to providing superior service to our customers."

"The Valley Family Technology Project is a historic partnership between the public, non-profit, and private sectors," Padilla said. "By investing in our children, their parents and their teachers, Verizon is helping provide this community with the tools for success in the classroom and the workplace."

In addition to the Valley Family Technology Project, other Verizon grant recipients are: Cambodian Association of America; Valley Economic Development Center; Valley Family Center; American GI Forum in Santa Maria; Central City Lutheran Mission; Barstow Literacy Coalition; Covina Library Fund Inc.; LA's BEST ; Shelter From the Storm Inc.; Para Los Niños; California Literacy Inc.; Libreria Del Pueblo Inc.; Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Friends of the San Fernando Library; Korean Youth and Community Center; Los Angeles Center for Education Research; Heart of Los Angeles Youth; Victor Valley College Foundation; and Project Amiga.

The $1 million in grants announced today is in addition to more than $3 million in grants made by Verizon Foundation to organizations throughout the state this year.

Verizon Foundation supports a variety of programs that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, bridging the digital divide, enriching communities through technology and creating a skilled work force. The foundation promotes partnerships in technology with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, and the economically and socially disadvantaged. The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that encourages Verizon employees to volunteer in their communities and provides matching gifts to nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation on the Internet.

Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 125 million access line equivalents and approximately 28 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with about 260,000 employees and more than $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.