Community

Our network investment creates jobs and spurs economic growth. We use our networks to address big social issues critical to the well-being of our communities.

Overview

Verizon’s commitment to our communities and stakeholders has remained steady — in tough economic times as well as in prosperous times.

Our philanthropy concentrates on improving education and literacy, protecting family safety and health, and encouraging our employees to volunteer for the things they love to do in their communities. We are devoted to helping solve the problem of domestic violence, and we’re working to inform customers how to make safer choices when they go online.

Verizon Foundation: 2008 Philanthropic Investments

Education and Literacy

Verizon’s signature philanthropic program is Thinkfinity.org, a Web site with free lesson plans and interactive learning materials for teachers, parents and students. In 2008, we increased usage 64 percent, trained more than 28,000 educators, and introduced more than 500 new online lessons.

Thinkfinity.org — The Best Education Resource on the Net

Verizon Volunteers

Verizon’s employees and retirees support thousands of causes in neighborhoods across the country. In 2008 they personally donated $13.4 million to more than 15,500 nonprofits and, together with the company’s matching funds, raised more than $26 million in combined contributions.

Civic and Community Support

Our investments in this area support community and economic development, neighborhood and community-based groups, and cultural entities like museums, art councils and heritage foundations.

Domestic Violence Prevention

Another signature program, Hopeline, supports local and national organizations that help end domestic violence, provide immediate safety and relief to survivors, and then help them move into the workplace and become independent.

Health Care and Accessibility

The Verizon Foundation invests in projects that put innovative technology to work to provide better health care services and information to underserved people, diverse age groups and people with disabilities.

Internet Safety

We have a responsibility to educate and empower people to use technology and to keep their information safe and secure when online. We support efforts that teach responsible, safe use of the Internet and other digital media.

Supporting Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness

Domestic Violence Prevention Summit

The Verizon Foundation hosted the third annual National Domestic Violence Summit in September 2008 in conjunction with its national partners: the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.

First-Ever Certification Program

Rutgers University’s School of Social Work received a $200,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation in June 2008 to begin a first-of-its-kind certification program for social workers and other professionals who assist victims of domestic violence. Verizon also established HopeLine Scholarships that will be awarded annually to six graduate students enrolled in the program.

Internet Safety: Exploring the Digital Nation

The Verizon Foundation is providing the major funding for a landmark project by the PBS series FRONTLINE that addresses the risks and possibilities presented by the new digital culture we all inhabit.

The project, “Digital Nation — Life on the Virtual Frontier,” includes an interactive Web site, safety education curriculum created by PBS and a one-hour documentary scheduled to air in 2010. A companion Verizon Web site, is linked to Digital Nation to provide visitors with insight into Internet safety and how Verizon is caring for the issue.