Verizon Wireless Named Lead Sponsor For Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation's Annual Charitable Classic Golf Tournament & Gala

WAYNESVILLE, NC — WAYNESVILLE, N.C. - Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless communications provider, has been named lead sponsor for the Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation's 10^th Annual "Play for Health" Charitable Classic Golf Tournament & Gala. This marks the fifth consecutive year Verizon Wireless has contributed $10,000 to participate as the event's lead sponsor.

"Haywood Regional Medical Center is an asset to the communities it serves," said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless' regional president - Carolinas. "Our continued support of this event is an expression of gratitude for the quality healthcare the center provides to residents of western North Carolina."

The Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation will use this and other charitable contributions, as it has in the past, to provide funds to help patients in need, to renovate existing facilities, to purchase new equipment, and to develop new programs and services.

Other major sponsors for this year's event include: Advanced Business Equipment, Lucent Technologies, Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc., Clark & Leatherwood Inc., and Haywood Medical Imaging.

The Annual Charitable Classic Golf Tournament & Gala will open with a ladies' golf tournament at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Waynesville Country Club. The following day, Thursday, Sept. 6, three golf tournaments will be held for men. Two of the golf tournaments will be hosted at Waynesville Country Club. The first tournament will begin at 8 a.m., and the second tournament will begin at 1 p.m. A third golf tournament will begin at noon at Laurel Ridge Country Club.

At 6:30 p.m. that evening, participants, sponsors, donors, volunteers and guests will gather at Waynesville Country Club for the gala, which will feature a dinner buffet and dancing. Prizes will be given away, and drawings will be held. Tickets to the gala are $25 per person.

Individuals interested in contributing to, participating in, or volunteering for the event should contact the Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation's office at (828) 452-8241.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 28 million wireless voice and data customers. The coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD), including Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless and PrimeCo Personal Communications. Verizon Wireless has a footprint covering more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 97 of the top 100 U.S. markets. The company, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 40,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

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