Verizon Long Distance Marks Million-Customer Milestone with Gift to Five Charities

Boys & Girls Club of America
Tuesday, 3 October 2000

Atlanta, Ga. (October 3, 2000) - Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) has received a cash donation from the $1 million dollars Verizon Long Distance is donating to five charities in celebration of its success. The nation's fastest-growing youth service organization will be presented a check for $180,000 to be used for additional outreach efforts in Boys & Girls Clubs throughout New York.

"We serve more than 250,000 youth in the New York area and this generous gift from Verizon will help us reach additional at-risk youth with educational and technology programs that will help to level the playing field," said Jim Schwab, Northeast regional vice president. "The awareness afforded by this promotion is also equally valuable as we look to increase our presence."

It took only seven months for the long-distance unit of Verizon Communications to sign up its first one million customers after launching the service in New York in January.

"As our way of saying 'thanks a million' to our first million customers, we asked them to choose how $1 million should be distributed among five agencies," said Maura Breen, Verizon group president-Long Distance.

"Our customers told us that each of these nonprofits is important to New York, and we're thrilled to be able to support such worthy causes with these gifts," Breen said.

"We hope these donations will make it possible for them to continue to make noticeable advances in their particular areas of community service. Giving something back is our way of building a bridge to the communities that we serve and fulfilling our commitment to service, a value that lies at the heart of our company."

In August, Verizon Long Distance sent letters to it New York customers, asking them to vote for the organization of their choice, either by calling a toll-free number or via the Internet at www.verizon-ld.com. Tens of thousands of customers responded.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) comprises a national network of 2,600 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 3.3 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," Clubs provide guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis for children 6 – 18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

Verizon Communications (NYSE-VZ) formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, in 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 more than 100 million access line equivalents and more than 25 million wireless customers. A Fortune 10 company with more than 260,000 employees and approximately $60 billion in 1999 revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

For more information, or to contact Boys & Girls Club of America, see their website at: www.bgca.org