Giving Back in Oregon

At Verizon Oregon, we believe deeply in the power of communications to change people's lives for the better. We are committed to bringing the benefits of our technology to as many places as we can, in a way that respects the rich diversity of our customers. We are building on a legacy of service that goes back more than a century. Our employees are continuing that commitment, serving millions of customers every day on the job and contributing their own time to the well-being of communities all over America and the world.

More than 20 nonprofit groups in Oregon received more than $165,000 from the Verizon Foundation in 2007, enabling the recipient organizations to improve basic literacy skills, create new and diverse approaches to technology-based learning, and help domestic violence victims rebuild their lives.
 
The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications and one of the largest corporate foundations in the world, awarded a total of $67.4 million in grants last year.

In 2007, Verizon Foundation grants included:

• $ 25,000 to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) for technology education in Turbine Hall;

• $15,000 each to the Inukai Boys and Girls Club of Hillsboro for its Internet safety program and the Women's Safety & Resource Center of Coos Bay for additional shelter space;

• $10,000 to the Oregon Children's Foundation (SMART) for literacy programs;

• $10,000 to the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center to support Padres Con Initiative classes to aid in prevention of domestic violence

• $10,000 to the Beaverton Education Foundation to support classroom innovations grants

• $10,000 to the Employers for Education Excellence (E3) to support Hispanic literacy mentoring in Hillsboro middle schools;

• $7,500 to Volunteers of America for outreach and education for its Home Free program to support domestic violence prevention.

Fourteen other organizations received nearly $62,500 through the foundation's Verizon Volunteers and matching gifts program, which rewards employees with matching gifts and grants to nonprofits and institutions of higher learning that employees donate to and support.

Last year, Verizon employees volunteered hundreds of hours to nonprofit groups across Oregon, including a large employee volunteer effort to support SOLV Clean and Green in Washington County.

Learn more about Verizon Volunteers.