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02/06/2004|Verizon News Archives

Verizon Supports 825 New York Nonprofit Groups to Promote Literacy, Technology, Work Force Development

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ALBANY, N.Y. - Verizon reaffirmed its commitment to the communities that the company serves in New York by providing grants in 2003 for a broad range of literacy, work force development, technology and human service programs.

Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, last year donated more than $11 million to 825 nonprofit groups in New York State. In the Capital District alone, 85 nonprofit groups received more than $473,000.

Nationwide, the foundation donated about $70 million to worthy causes and charities, including matching nearly $14 million in donations from employees.

"We believe in investing in our communities through strategic partnerships with organizations that support education and literacy, technology education, and health and human services," said Paul A. Crotty, Verizon group president for New York and Connecticut. "Verizon's grants continue to underscore our long-standing goal of improving the communities we serve and our commitment to providing excellent service to our customers."

Recipients of major grants included:

  • The Community Foundation for the Capital Region Inc. -- $150,000 to fund the foundation's annual literacy project. The project includes the Verizon Reads Classroom Scholarships, the Verizon Reads Kids & Classroom Walk for Literacy and the Verizon Reads Book Drive.

  • The Workshop Inc. -- $30,000 to develop the First Step program. The Workshop will first establish a mobile computer and work force preparation program for adults with disabilities who lack the skills for today's workplace and have difficulty obtaining and maintaining employment. The second goal is to develop an employer/client Internet mentoring program through the use of the organization's existing Business Advisory Council.

  • City of Albany - Department of Youth & Family Services. -- $25,000 to rollout a pilot interactive exhibit called "Communications Village." Verizon invested in the future of the Capital Region's science and technology work force by providing seed funds for the design phase of this exhibit.

  • Girls Inc. -- $12,500 to fund the Career Options Program to provide young women with college preparation skills, hands-on experience in what the science, math and technology fields can offer, and career planning skills.

  • Junior League of Schenectady -- $15,000 to fund Operation Back-to School -- to give children the opportunity to start the school year with quality school supplies in order to excite them about their courses and about learning in general.

  • Seton Health Foundation Inc. -- $20,000 to collaborate on the Books For Kids Program to help collect more than 20,000 new and gently used books for Capital Region Charities.

  • YMCA of the Capital District -- $31,000 in support of the Community Starts Here Project for the East Greenbush branch. This Web-related initiative affords the YMCA an opportunity to enhance community outreach.

  • Capital Region Robotics Team -- $10,000 to the Capital Region Robotics Team to enter the 2000 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition. The team is made up of faculty and students from Shenendehowa High School, South Colonie High School and Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC). In addition, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall received funding to purchase a comprehensive ticketing and theater management system to enable its staff to provide a high level of service to patrons and community groups.

    • Other grant recipients included Saratoga Stages; Albany Police Athletic League; American Heart Association; Community Caregivers Inc.; Hudson Valley Community College Foundation; and the Albany Institute of History and Art.

    In addition to the Verizon Foundation grants, 1,426 nonprofit organizations in New York State received more than $2.3 million through Verizon Volunteers, a program that encourages Verizon employees to volunteer in their communities and provides matching gifts to the nonprofit organizations that employees support.

    Verizon Foundation ranks as one of the largest corporate foundations in America, providing grants and developing programs to support the communities where Verizon does business. The foundation places special emphasis on literacy, work force development and the use of technology for the benefit of all people. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

    Verizon Communications

    A Fortune 10 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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    Related Documents:

    Verizon Grants in Western New York

    Verizon Grants in Central New York

    Verizon Grants in New York City

    Verizon Grants in Long Island

    Verizon Grants in Westchester County

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