Verizon Donates $250,000 to Support Communities Impacted by California Wildfires

Basking Ridge, N.J., November 19, 2018 – Verizon today announced it will donate an additional $150,000 in cash grants for the communities impacted by California’s devastating fires, adding to its $100,000 grant commitment previously pledged.

The nation’s most reliable provider said it will be donating $75,000 each to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and to the Boys and Girls Club of the North Valley, which is providing services to an influx of children from the ravaged Northern California communities of Paradise and Magalia. Last week, Verizon announced a $100,000 grant to the North Valley Community Foundation, based in Chico, California.

"It is heartbreaking to witness a disaster of this magnitude; our hearts and full support go out to the communities being impacted by these wildfires, including our own customers and employees," said Verizon wireless operations leader Tami Erwin. "Verizon is committed to working alongside disaster relief partners to help return a sense of normalcy to residents and rebuild the areas impacted.” 

Verizon engineers and fiber crews have been working around the clock in both northern and southern California to ensure network restoration and communications stations with equipment such as Internet-connected laptops, phones and cell phone charging have been set up at seven evacuation shelters in the impacted areas. See the latest Verizon NewsCenter update for the list of shelters.

Supporting first responders and relief agencies is also a priority. Verizon has dedicated staff working side by side with local emergency operations centers (EOCs) and the California Office of Emergency Centers (CalOES). In addition, the company has loaned wireless equipment including phones, routers, mobile hotspots, tablets and charging cables to emergency and relief organizations.