Verizon Wireless Goes Long With The Atlanta, Georgia Football Classic

ATLANTA, GA — Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable network, is proud to sponsor the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic (AFC). The company will produce a variety of consumer events and contests during the annually-anticipated family event, including the new Verizon Wireless IN Zone, the official tailgate party for the AFC. Verizon Wireless is the official wireless provider for the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and that relationship facilitates an ongoing involvement with the organizations major annual events, including the AFC.

The AFC features the Florida A&M Rattlers (FAMU) vs. Tennessee State Tigers (TSU) on September 24 at 3 p.m. at the Georgia Dome. Proceeds from the game will benefit both schools along with the 100 Black Men of Atlanta's flagship program, Project Success. Project Success is a mentoring, academic support and tuition assistance program that teaches urban youth the importance of a strong work ethic and academic success while fully funding each participant's post-secondary educational experience. Last year the AFC generated more than $500,000 to the Project Success program.

"Commitment to strengthening the community is something that the 100 Black Men of Atlanta and Verizon Wireless have in common," said John Grant, executive director and COO of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. "It only makes sense for a company like Verizon Wireless to join us by supporting the Atlanta Football Classic, and Project Success, because we have a shared commitment to excellence in ourselves, our communities and most importantly our youth."

Verizon Wireless has many plans for the AFC weekend including a new venue outside the Georgia Dome called IN Zone. The weekend will include performances on the Verizon Wireless Sound Stage including, R&B star Marques Houston headlining the IN Zone entertainment at 12:30 p.m. and a DJ exhibition beginning at 8 p.m. featuring Atlanta's most talented DJs. Verizon Wireless is also sponsoring the "Are you IN?" Step Show that will give Greek Letter Organizations the opportunity to showcase their stepping skills and have fun at the event. The Step Show will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 24.

The IN Zone area will feature the Verizon Wireless "Get Famous" tent and will provide opportunities for AFC fans to try the latest and greatest from Verizon Wireless, demos of BroadbandAccess and V CAST - the nation's first wireless broadband multimedia service for consumers that allows them to view high-quality video clips from major news, sports and entertainment outlets, play 3D games and download rich multimedia content. IN Zone and the Get Famous tent will be open to the public beginning at 9:00 a.m. and will close during the game and reopen from 6 p.m. — 10 p.m.

In addition to the cutting edge technology from Verizon Wireless, fans will be able to register for prizes, meet local DJs, including Frank Ski of V103 and Emperor Searcy, and have their V CAST photo taken which can be emailed to friends and family.

VERIZON WIRELESS "GET FAMOUS" TENT SCHEDULE

9:00 a.m.
Tent opens

• Verizon Wireless commercial loops on screens
• V CAST photo table opens. Photos will be posted on the tent projection screens
• VZW product table opens
• Getting Tones table opens
• From 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., raffle tickets will be given to all those entering the tent. Attendees will have the opportunity to win Verizon Wireless V CAST phones (drawing held at 9:00 p.m.)

10:00 a.m — 3:00 p.m.
"Get Famous" Red Carpet

• Customers with Verizon Wireless VIP lanyards will get a chance to walk the red carpet and are interviewed by Hot 107.9's Emperor Searcy

11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Make Your Own Music Video Booth Opens

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Verizon Wireless Sound Stage

• Performance by National Recording Artist / R&B Sensation Marques Houston
• "Meet & Greet" with Marques Houston

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
"Are You In?" Step Show Exhibition

3:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Tent Closed for Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic game

6:00 p.m.
Verizon Wireless Tent Reopens

• From 6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m., Raffle tickets will be given to all those entering the tent. Attendees will have the opportunity to win Verizon Wireless V CAST phones

"Get Famous" Red Carpet

• Customers with Verizon Wireless VIP lanyards will get a chance to walk the red carpet and are interviewed by Hot 107.9's Emperor Searcy

7:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.
Verizon Wireless Sound Stage New Artist Showcase

• Exciting Performances by Atlanta's hottest unsigned talent

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
"Get Famous" DJ Exhibition

• Four (4) of Atlanta's most talented DJs show off their skills

9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Give-a-ways/V CAST PHONE Raffle

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About 100 Black Men
100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. is a nonprofit, civic and community action organization founded by nineteen members in October 1986 becoming one of five 100 Black Men chapters in the country. The 100 Black Men of Atlanta is now the largest of 103 chapters across the United States, the United Kingdom, the Bahamas, Africa and Jamaica. Together these chapters make up the 100 Black Men of America, Inc., which is also built on the tradition of self-help and is a permanent fixture in the African-American experience. Today, the Atlanta Chapter consists of over 267 men who are considered leaders in their respective professions and are committed to the mission and the vision of the organization. The signature program, Project Success is a "post-secondary preparation and tuition assistance program" whose components are: 100 Saturday Academy, Collegiate 100, Family & Youth Empowerment Program, and the 100 Resource Learning Center have each been instrumental in raising the level of students' academic performance while preparing them for a successful and productive adulthood. 100 Black Men of Atlanta has developed a program that works. Our history has proven that families who participate in the Project Success program can break this cycle of poor academic performance and economic dependence for themselves, their children and generations to come.

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