Bell Atlantic Awards Staten Island Resident With Company's Highest Honor

Bell Atlantic Awards Staten Island Resident With Company's Highest Honor

Dora Torres Recognized for Outstanding Community Service

April 10, 2000

NEW YORK - Dora Torres, of Staten Island, N.Y., has been awarded one of Bell Atlantic's highest employee honors, the Leaders in Excellence Award.

Torres, staff manager-Bell Atlantic Community Affairs, initiated a unique employee fund-raising campaign that raised some $200,000 to help communities in the Caribbean, South America and Central America, who were struck by natural disasters this past year.

Torres garnered support for her initiative from the Hispanic Support Organization, a Bell Atlantic employee resource group; the Bell Atlantic Foundation, which matched employee contributions dollar for dollar; and the Hispanic Federation and Catholic Relief Services, who distributed the money. As a result of her creativity and compassion, and the generosity of the more than 1,700 employees who contributed to the campaign, basic human services such as food, shelter and clothing were provided to those who needed it most.

The Bell Atlantic Leaders in Excellence Award is presented annually to individual employees and employee teams who have demonstrated a devotion to quality, and a commitment to customers or an outstanding dedication to community service.

"Our Leaders in Excellence champions set high standards, and take responsibility to bring about lasting improvements," said Ivan Seidenberg, Bell Atlantic chairman and CEO. "Their initiative and hard work is at the heart of quality, and helps create a workplace that is dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement."

Torres is one of 60 individuals who were honored recently at area celebrations hosted by Bell Atlantic's senior executives. Honorees were selected from more than 1,428 nominations representing nearly 9,000 employees.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry. With nearly 44 million telephone access lines and 12 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.