Verizon Foundation Offers Grant Opportunities To West Virginia Nonprofit Groups

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is seeking grant proposals in West Virginia from United Way agencies for technology-based projects.

The foundation hopes to award grants totaling $100,000 throughout the state. The grants would range between $800 and $30,000.

To be eligible, a United Way central organization or its member agencies must be located in or serve the service area of Verizon West Virginia (Verizon's wireline provider).

"We believe the use of new technologies can greatly enhance the productivity of United Way agencies," said Gale Given, president of Verizon West Virginia. "And, as the productivity of the agencies improves, so too does the delivery of services to those citizens who need them the most."

Verizon is seeking proposals for projects that make use of technology. The grants can be used to fund computer hardware, software, peripherals and Internet access. No more than 20 percent of the grant should be used for purchasing computer hardware.

Proposals must be submitted through Verizon Foundation's Web site, www.verizon.com/foundation, prior to Sept. 3, 2003. Verizon will announce grant winners by the end of September.

Verizon Foundation last year awarded 22,000 grants totaling more than $70 million to nonprofit agencies that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, enriching communities through technology, and creating a skilled work force. 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 more than 500,000 hours in their communities and provided nearly $28 million in matching gifts to nonprofit organizations. 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. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 136.6 million access line equivalents and 33.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third-largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with 13.2 million long-distance lines, and the company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. With approximately $67 billion in annual revenues and 227,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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