Verizon Foundation Offers $200,000 in Grants to Pennsylvania Community Colleges

PHILADELPHIA - Community colleges located within Verizon's Pennsylvania service territory with a strong focus on technology and workforce development are invited to compete for $200,000 in grants being offered by Verizon Foundation.

The foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is seeking grant applications for innovative projects that use technology to foster workforce development in the commonwealth.

"The explosive growth of technology is dramatically changing the way we learn and the way companies do business," said Daniel J. Whelan, president and CEO of Verizon Pennsylvania. "This unique opportunity gives our community colleges incentives to embrace technology to educate individuals and prepare them for the work place of tomorrow."

Verizon Foundation will give strong preference to projects that:
• Emphasize how the innovative use of technology can benefit students and teachers;

• Have a widespread impact in the community;

• Demonstrate partnerships and collaborations to help improve organizational efficiency, and

• Define measurable results.

The deadline for filing proposals is Oct. 15. Interested organizations should apply online through Verizon Foundation's Web site at www.verizon.com/foundation. The foundation will not accept mailed or faxed proposals. Applicants must be Pennsylvania community colleges within Verizon's Pennsylvania service areas. Verizon Foundation will award grants in December.

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 on the Internet.

Verizon Communications

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 135.1 million access line equivalents and 30.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 241,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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