Bell Atlantic Employees and Foundation Give More Than $170,000 to the United Negro College Fund

The College Fund (UNCF)
Friday, 18 February 2000

Fairfax, VA - The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) received a gift of $170,928 from the Bell Atlantic Foundation in support of its Corporate Scholars and Leaders for the Future Program.

The contribution stems from a unique collaboration between the Bell Atlantic Foundation and the Consortium of Information and Telecommunications Executives (CITE), a Bell Atlantic employee resource group representing over 2,000 African American employees.

CITE and the Bell Atlantic Foundation worked in partnership to execute a major fundraising campaign on behalf of the UNCF. The four-month campaign raised more than $35,000 that was collected from Bell Atlantic employees, which was matched by Bell Atlantic Foundation. In addition, the foundation made a $100,000 grant to UNCF.

"Bell Atlantic employees have clearly shown their commitment to the United Negro College Fund, and the Bell Atlantic Foundation is proud to join with them in supporting this very worthwhile organization." said Dubose, President, The Bell Atlantic Foundation. "Obtaining a college degree is vitally important in our increasingly complex and information-driven society," DuBose continued. "It is my fervent hope that the partnership we've forged between Bell Atlantic's employees, the Bell Atlantic Foundation and the UNCF will continue for many years to come and that we will be able to help many African American students further their education and pursue their dreams."

"We are extremely grateful for this gift and commend the Bell Atlantic Foundation and CITE for their outstanding efforts to support minority education," said William H. Gray, president and CEO of UNCF. "This partnership demonstrates these organizations' commitment to helping deserving young men and women earn college degrees."

CITE is a company-recognized resource group comprised of current and former Bell Atlantic employees. Its members are dedicated to community service, personal and professional development and raising the consciousness level of all Americans regarding diversity issues. During the past 16 years, CITE has awarded more than $370,000 in scholarships to some 140 deserving students of color across the mid-Atlantic region.

"There are too many students who would not be able to attend college without financial assistance," said Shirley Askew, Vic President, External Affairs, CITE. "Our success in raising money for scholarships is largely due to the drive, commitment and teamwork of the members of CITE and UNCF fundraising committees."

The Bell Atlantic Foundation supports a broad range of projects domestically and internationally, with an emphasis on new technology applications in education, health and human services, the arts and humanities, and civic development in communities served by Bell Atlantic. For more information, visit www.bellatlanticfoundation.com on the Internet.

The United Negro College Fund is the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF has raised more than $1.4 billion to support its 39 member institutions and to administer more than 450 programs, including scholarships, mentoring programs, summer enrichment, study abroad, curriculum and faculty development, and leadership development. For more information, visit www.uncf.org on the Internet.

For more information, or to contact The College Fund (UNCF), see their website at: www.uncf.org