Verizon Foundation Awards Wisconsin-Based Advocates Of Ozaukee $10,000 Grant

GRAFTON, WI — The Verizon Foundation today awarded Advocates of Ozaukee a $10,000 grant that will be used to support programs aimed at combating domestic violence in Ozaukee County and educating the general public about the issue.

The $10,000 donation was awarded today at a special ceremony at the new Verizon Wireless Communications Store at 2512 Washington St. in Grafton. Carolyn Schamberger, public relations manager of Verizon Wireless, presented the donation to Barb Fisher, executive director of Advocates of Ozaukee, with members of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce and other business and community leaders looking on.

Advocates of Ozaukee strives to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault by providing education, prevention and intervention services to individuals and families.

As Ozaukee County's only provider of domestic and sexual violence advocacy, the agency provides emergency shelter, food, transportation, one-on-one counseling, legal advocacy, transitional living, outreach, and other services to those in need. The grant from the Verizon Foundation will help fund the organization's advocacy programs as well as provide transitional living services for victims.

"We thank the Verizon Foundation for giving us the opportunity to continue to fulfill our mission," said Fisher. "With these funds, we can continue to serve the residents of Ozaukee County, including the Grafton community."

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its signature program, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2007, the foundation awarded more than $67.4 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $25.1 million in combined contributions. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

About Verizon Communications Inc.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 66 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nations most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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.

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