Verizon Offers Over $340,000 to Nonprofits in Maryland

At an announcement at Dickey Hill Elementary School in Baltimore, Verizon invited eligible nonprofit organizations in the state to mail or e-mail proposals to the company to compete for the grants.

Check Into Literacy enables Verizon landline phone customers to make a $1-a-month, tax-deductible donation to literacy programs when customers pay their Verizon bill. All they need to do is check off a box on their payment slip. Verizon has already collected $341,000 through the program in Maryland.

To qualify for funding, applicants must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing basic reading skills and computer and Web-based literacy programs to Marylanders in underserved communities. Grant proposals must be submitted by midnight, Sept. 10. Verizon will announce grant recipients on Nov. 30.

"A dollar a month may not seem like much, but it can go a long way to improving literacy skills in local communities and give people the opportunity to succeed," said William R. Roberts, president of Verizon Maryland. "Literacy is the foundation of a successful future for all children, and Verizon is proud to partner with our customers to assist literacy organizations throughout Maryland."

At today's event, legendary actor and Verizon brand ambassador James Earl Jones read Disney's "The Lion King" to first- and second-graders and presented them with autographed copies of the book. The Verizon Maryland Chapter TelecomPioneers – some dressed as circus clowns – entertained the children and distributed gift bags containing t-shirts and school supplies. The children attend a program at the Dickey Hill school run by Building Educated Leaders for Life in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning.

"Summer learning is vital if children are to keep pace academically, and reading is one of the most important things kids can do over the summer to succeed," said Ron Fairchild, executive director of the Center for Summer Learning. "Studies show that vacation-time reading loss particularly affects low-income children. Instead of losing ground over the summer, programs like the one at Dickey Hill have been shown to boost reading achievement."

Roberts said, "We applaud the work that outstanding Maryland organizations perform each day to combat illiteracy. Grants from the Verizon Foundation's Check Into Literacy program provide much-needed funding so organizations can continue making a positive impact in the community."-Verizon