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WALLINGFORD, CT — The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Wireless, is extending its Connecticut giving initiative for a third year, with grants now available to nonprofit organizations that meet its funding criteria.
Grants are awarded to specific programs in four categories, including programs that help victims of domestic violence, offer support for underserved populations in areas of workforce development, literacy and technology.
In 2004, Verizon Foundation awarded more than $457,000 in Connecticut to the numerous nonprofit organizations, including the following:
Verizon Wireless HopeLineSM (confronting domestic violence with technology solutions):
Domestic Violence Crisis Center, Norwalk
$15,000 to support counseling and assistance to victims of domestic abuse.
Family and Children's AID, Danbury
$4,500 to establish a technology center for residents (women and children) of homeless shelter to enhance women's ability to create resumes, seek training and jobs.
Mercy Leaning Center, Bridgeport
$6,000 to expand programming at Learning Center to include one-on-one tutoring of English, basic literacy and GED preparation to a population of low-income women.
Network Against Domestic Violence, Enfield
$17,500 to expand advocacy/support services for victims of domestic abuse, including assistance with criminal court procedures and protective orders.
Rape Crisis Center of Milford, Milford
$3,500 to expand age-appropriate lessons on body safety, sexual assault and violence prevention to more than 9,000 students in seven CT school districts.
Susan B. Anthony Project, Torrington
$1,000 to support ongoing programs including assistance with domestic violence, transitional living, sexual assault and education and outreach.
The Umbrella Program, Ansonia
$9,500 to support development of confidential database of abuse victims.
Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut
$5,300 to upgrade safety and security precautions for women using shelter services.
Verizon Works (programs that prepare the workforce of the future):
Dress for Success of Greater Hartford, Hartford
$8000 to support job retention, counseling and career development programs for low-income women who have re-entered the workplace.
Dress for Success of Mid-Fairfield County, Fairfield
$5,000 to support job retention, counseling and career development programs for low-income women who have re-entered the workplace.
National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Hartford
$5,000 to support for Business Expo and Business Plan Competition, targeted to inner city youth. Winners of best business plan receive seed capital awards and laptop computers.
Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted
$10,000 for computer literacy job training designed to bring unemployed, dislocated workers and displaced homemakers into the workplace.
Verizon Connects (putting information technology to work for communities):
Abundant Life Community Church, Willimantic
$500 for hardware/software and Internet network for computer resource center providing after school tutorials for public school students.p> Aspira of Connecticut, Bridgeport
$8,195 to provide computer training to Latino youth and adults in the Greater Bridgeport area.
CLASP Homes, Westport
$13,200 to purchase equipment to teach computer skills to individuals with developmental disabilities.
Concepts for Adaptive Learning, New Haven
$5,000 for an in-home computer literacy program for parents and children in disadvantaged areas.
Danbury Area Computer Society, Inc., Danbury
$240 to support resource center.
Family Services Woodfield, Bridgeport
$10,000 to support groupware inter-agency computer system and web page to better serve families in the Bridgeport Community.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bridgeport, Bridgeport
$7,900 to conduct assessment and recommendation of technology needs to bring efficiency to the organization's mission to assist in the construction of low-income housing.
Hispanic Health Council, Hartford
$5,000 to expand and enhance computer software, hardware and networking.
Stonington Education Foundation, Stonington
$5,000 to support computer hardware/software for the high school Distance Learning Center.
Stratford Catholic Regional School System, Stratford
$5,000 to support the after-school learning center that pairs junior high school students in a tutoring role with senior citizens.
West Indian Foundation, Hartford
$5,000 to support computer learning center and technology skills training.p> Women and Families Center, Meriden
$15,463 to support development of basic literacy, technology and job-readiness skills for displaced homemakers, low-income, low literacy skills and individuals with limited English and other barriers to employment.
Verizon Reads (dedicated to the mission of a more literate America):
Annual Multicultural Business Youth Educational Services Embarkment, Danbury
$7,500 for reading and math skills building, mentoring and SAT prep for multicultural high school students.
Casimir Pulaski Elementary School, Meriden
$2,500 to support home use of laptop computers for students with learning disabilities to improve reading and writing skills.
Children's Community School, Waterbury
$5,300 to support individualized tutoring of basic reading skills to low-income, underperforming Waterbury students in grades 1-5.
Patrons of the New Haven Free Public Library
$5,000 to provide English as second language resources and training to immigrant population of New Haven utilizing local branch libraries.
St. Luke's Community Services, Stamford
$5,000 to support development of Learning Center to provide basic literacy, economic literacy and job skills to underprivileged adults, many with learning disabilities.
St. Francis Hospital, Hartford
$4,000 to support pediatric literacy program to promote reading among children and parents in primary care unit.
Stepping Stones Museum for Children, Norwalk
$5,000 to support "Get Into Reading" program, which promotes development of literacy skills using arts, science, culture and heritage to engage children and their caregivers in the learning process.
The Success Foundation, Stamford
$10,000 grant for SAT preparatory instruction for minority high school students.
"Verizon Wireless is committed to supporting the diverse communities we work in," said Bob Stott, Verizon Wireless New England president. "Some of these grants will establish or strengthen programs to help workers receive the training necessary for today's labor market. The grants will also help victims of domestic violence gain financial independence through job training so they can leave violent relationships and provide a healthy environment for their families."
Connecticut nonprofit and educational organizations throughout Connecticut are invited to submit grant proposals through Verizon Foundation's online application process. Proposals are only accepted online at www.verizon.com/foundation.
The Verizon Foundation last year awarded more than 26,500 grants totaling more than $71.4 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on improving basic computer literacy, enriching communities through technology, and creating a skilled work force across the country.
The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer 528,000 hours in their communities and provided $37.6 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information about the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 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 receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.
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