Verizon Promotes eLiteracy with $30,000 in Grants to Six Minuteman-Area Libraries

BOSTON, Mass. - Verizon announced today that it is granting $30,000 to advance eLiteracy at six libraries in Belmont, Burlington, Bedford, Lexington, Winchester and Woburn. Each local library will receive a $5,000 Verizon Foundation grant for programs that help residents learn about and use technology to expand their knowledge and access to the Internet.

The Verizon Foundation has made basic literacy and computer literacy one of its major priorities due to its enormous impact on education, health, economic development and the digital divide. Through its Verizon Reads programs, Verizon has increased community awareness with Literacy Champion Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox, raised funds for the Massachusetts Literacy Foundation through customer donations, and involved employees in collecting books for libraries, schools and community-based organizations.

"The Verizon Foundation has identified literacy as a priority issue, and we recognize the importance libraries play in our communities," said Mary Rafferty, regional director of public affairs, Verizon. "Literacy is key to being able to take advantage of the power of technology. These grants to the Massachusetts libraries underscore our commitment to eLiteracy, which is all about teaching people how to use technology to enrich their lives."

In addition to the library grants, Verizon also collected and matched book donations for the Winchester Library and schools, and Woburn Social Concern.

The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. In 2004, the foundation awarded more than 26,000 grants totaling over $70 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on improving literacy, computer and technology skills, and identifying domestic violence solutions. The foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the economically and socially disadvantaged.

The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer 528,000 hours in their communities and provided $37.6 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

Verizon Communications Inc.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon has a diverse work force of 212,000 in four business units: Domestic Telecom provides customers based in 28 states with wireline and other telecommunications services, including broadband. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 45.5 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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