Verizon Foundation Offers Grant Opportunities to Maine School Districts

PORTLAND, Maine -- Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is seeking grant proposals for delivering education services that use interactive video technology for distance learning.

Maine school systems are invited to apply for competitive grants totaling $30,000. The grants will be awarded to innovative educational distance learning applications.

"Verizon cares deeply about the communities we serve," said Ed Dinan, president of Verizon Maine. "Our children deserve nothing but the best. These grants are designed to stimulate distance learning applications that will provide Maine students with access to broader curricula choices and a better opportunity to gain necessary skills to compete in the global marketplace."

Verizon is seeking proposals that demonstrate collaboration via the use of interactive video distance learning technology to enhance course offerings in Maine's education system.

"This is the type of public-private partnership necessary to enhance collaboration and quality education on a local, regional, and statewide basis," said State Commissioner of Education Susan A. Gendron. "The Verizon grant announcement will certainly generate more comprehensive educational opportunities throughout Maine."

Proposals must be submitted no later than May 21 through Verizon Foundation's Web site, www.verizon.com/foundation. Verizon Foundation is proposing to award three $10,000 grants. Schools must have a current school and district registration from the National Center for Education Statistics to qualify for funding.

"This is what is needed for education to flourish in Maine, and it will hopefully generate more innovative ideas for delivering education that can be shared throughout the state," said Judy Stallworth, assistant superintendent of Maine School Administrative District 75 in Topsham.

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 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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