Verizon Foundation Offers $500,000 in Grants to New York Nonprofit Groups

NEW YORK - Nonprofit organizations and educational institutions in New York are invited to compete for $500,000 in grants offered by Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications.

Verizon is soliciting proposals that help address literacy, programs supporting English as a second language, and basic computer literacy skills in the communities the company serves. The grants, ranging from $25,000 to $50,000, will be announced July 22.

"Higher literacy rates mean stronger communities, economic growth and a skilled work force," said Paul Crotty, Verizon New York and Connecticut group president. "Verizon is committed to supporting organizations in their efforts to develop and increase awareness of this fundamental need in today's technology-driven workplace."

Proposals must be submitted through the Verizon Foundation Web site, www.verizon.com/foundation, by May 5. Applicants should click on the New York RFP link and type invitation code 513PYFW7SY.

To qualify for funding, applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a valid Internal Revenue Service tax ID. School grant requests must benefit after-school programs and have a current National Center for Education Statistics school and district registration number to qualify.

Last year, 116 nonprofit organizations in New York alone benefited from Verizon Foundation literacy grants totaling more than $2.3 million.

Verizon is committed to being America's literacy champion. The company conducts campaigns to increase community awareness and to generate additional funding and support of literacy programs for adults, children and families.

Verizon Foundation is committed to helping people and communities make progress every day. The 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.

A Fortune 20 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Daniel Díaz Zapata, New York City, 212-395-7602
Cliff Lee, upstate New York, 518-396-1095
Ivette Mendez, Verizon Foundation, 973-649-4834
Jenny Buccella, , Verizon Community Relations, 212-395-3960