Pennsylvania Schools and Nonprofits Received More Than 6,200 Books Through Verizon's Season's Readings Campaign
January 21 2010 - 10:36AM
PR Newswire (US)
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Schools and nonprofit
organizations throughout Pennsylvania have received more than 6,200
children's books that were donated through the Verizon Foundation's
recent Season's Readings campaign. Each year, Verizon employees at
hundreds of company locations, including 41 across Pennsylvania,
participate in the Season's Readings campaign by donating new or
gently used children's books. This past year, the public was
invited to take part in the campaign by making an online donation
to First Book, a nonprofit organization providing new books to
children in need through schools, libraries and other community
organizations across the country. Random House Children's Books
also participated by matching contributions made online, adding
more than 15,000 books to the campaign total. Among the
organizations receiving books in Pennsylvania are the Salvation
Army in Philadelphia, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
YWCA After School Program, the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National
Institute in Erie and the York City School District. "Studies have
shown that one of the most successful methods to improving reading
achievement is to ensure that children have easy access to
age-appropriate reading material," said Gale Y. Given, president of
Verizon Pennsylvania. "I am tremendously proud of the efforts of
our employees, our partners and everyone who participated in the
Season's Readings campaign to help get books into the hands of
children and help them become lifelong learners." Season's Readings
began in 2001 as a Verizon employees' campaign to advance the cause
of children's literacy. Since then, more than 2 million children's
books have been donated to children across the country. "We applaud
the employees of Verizon for their commitment to literacy," said
Kyle Zimmer, First Book president and CEO. "Thanks to their
generous support, First Book is bringing close to 33,000 new books
to children and families who need them most. Together, Verizon and
First Book are helping children in need open the doors to
exploration, adventure and learning through new books." The Verizon
Foundation supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education
through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters
awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2009, the Verizon
Foundation awarded more than $67.5 million in grants to nonprofit
agencies in the U.S. and abroad. It also matched the charitable
donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an
additional $24.4 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.
Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee
volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered
more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more
information on the foundation, visit
http://www.verizonfoundation.org/. Verizon Communications Inc.
(NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in
delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications
services to mass market, business, government and wholesale
customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable
wireless network, serving more than 89 million customers
nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications,
information and entertainment services over America's most advanced
fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business
solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon
employs a diverse workforce of more than 230,000 and last year
generated consolidated revenues of more than $97 billion. For more
information, visit http://www.verizon.com/. First Book provides new
books to children in need addressing one of the most important
factors affecting literacy - access to books. An innovative leader
in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 65
million free and low cost books in thousands of communities. First
Book now has offices in the U.S. and Canada. For more information
about the nonprofit First Book please visit
http://www.firstbook.org/. VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon
news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts,
high-quality video and images, and other information are available
at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at
http://www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail,
visit the News Center and register for customized automatic
delivery of Verizon news releases. DATASOURCE: Verizon CONTACT: Lee
Gierczynski, Verizon, +1-412-633-5574, Web Site:
http://www.verizon.com/
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