Volunteerism is a major part of the culture of Verizon Maryland. Our employees have been leaders in supporting their neighbors and those less fortunate by giving their time, their resources and their talents to worthwhile and productive community activities. Our employees are ranked number one in Verizon for their commitment to their communities. Their charitable contributions of money and time received the highest level of matching funds.

In addition to our employees' commitment, Verizon retirees volunteer millions of hours of their time each year in numerous activities to help make progress for Maryland residents and customers.

Nonprofits in Maryland and the District of Columbia Received Nearly $2.9 Million in 2008 From the Verizon Foundation

More than 200 nonprofit groups in Maryland and Washington, D.C., received nearly $1.8 million from the Verizon Foundation in 2008.  The grants have enabled the recipient organizations to improve basic literacy skills, create new and diverse approaches to technology-based learning, including Internet safety programs, and help domestic violence survivors rebuild their lives. 

In addition, through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retires volunteered more than 56,000 hours and raised close to $1.1 million for nonprofit groups in 2008.

Read the press release.

Raising awareness of domestic violence and aiding in its prevention is one of the Verizon Foundation¿s principal areas of focus. The Foundation recently provided a $10,000 grant to the Light House Homeless Shelter in Annapolis to initiate a new program designed to counsel and educate men with a history of violence toward women.

The program is designed to help men with a greater risk of violence find healthy responses to issues and societal pressures they face. Individual and group counseling will focus on anger management, healthy relationship building, problem solving, and behavior modification.

¿We applaud Verizon for its leadership role in helping us create a safer community for our families,¿ said Harry Cole, executive director of the Light House Homeless Shelter. ¿We are truly grateful that the company realizes that fathers need support in times of crises in order to prevent domestic violence.¿

The Light House is steadfast in its 20-year mission of rebuilding lives in Anne Arundel County with service and compassion by providing shelter, preventing homelessness and empowering people as they work toward self-sufficiency. To learn more visit www.annapolislighthouse.org.

The Maryland Verizon FiOS volunteer team raced passed its goal of raising $200,000 in its 10th year with the Bike MS event on behalf of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  The annual event is a noncompetitive bike ride and walk to raise money to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis.  This event is the largest organized cycling event in the United States, with nearly 100,000 cyclists participating in over 100 tours offered nationwide. 

The team of over 120 Verizon Maryland employees, families and friends, sponsored in part by the Verizon Foundation, has participated annually since the year 2000.  This year alone the team raised nearly $8,500 and earned a matching gift from the Foundation, for a grand total of over $17,000. for the cure.

5,000 Marylanders have been diagnosed and are living with Multiple Sclerosis.
To learn more about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society¿s Bike MS event, visit www.nationalmssociety.org.

Four college interns made the most of their summer break and gained valuable work skills through a partnership between Verizon and the Baltimore County Office of Workforce Development.

An important part of the Verizon intern program is to provide students the high-tech skills they will need to become members of Verizon¿s future workforce team. The Verizon interns were heavily involved in technology. Each intern was hired to update computer databases, conduct research and assist with community outreach utilizing the latest social networking tools.

The Youth Services division of the Office of Workforce Development offers programs and services that help youth, ages 14-24, reach their education and employment goals. By working in partnership with employers, school districts and communities, the Youth Services division engages in activities that focus on academic achievement, employability and life skills.