Giving Back in Rhode Island

Verizon's commitment to Rhode Island proved strong in 2008 through grants for a broad range of programs. Hundreds of nonprofit groups received nearly $600,000 from the Verizon Foundation, enabling the organizations to improve literacy skills, create new and diverse approaches to technology-based education, and help domestic violence victims rebuild their lives.

Verizon employees and retirees also volunteered more than 4,200 hours of personal time to assist nonprofit organizations throughout the state.

Read the press release.

Twenty students from North Providence High School and La Salle Academy are enrolled in a summer college preparation program that is sponsored by the Providence College School of Continuing Education (SCE). The program is funded through a $30,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation.

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Pictured (L to R) Donna C. Cupelo '78; Rev. Kenneth R.Sicard, O.P. '78 & '82G; and Madeleine Metzler, associate dean of the SCE.

Books are Wings

Verizon Reads presented a $13,303 grant to Books Are Wings, a non-profit organization founded 11 years ago to promote family literacy and public awareness of the services offered by neighborhood libraries. Books Are Wings collects and sorts new and "gently used" books and redistributes them at book parties in venues throughout the state especially in areas of low income families to ensure that every child has books in their home. Books Are Wings with the help of Verizon Reads strives to encourage children to develop a curiosity for reading that will result in improved reading skills and to instill the notion that reading is fun!   The event was held at the East Providence Weaver Library.

Verizon works closely with a variety of advisory groups and nonprofit organizations to identify local needs and to develop and nurture programs that address those needs through the philanthropic support of the Verizon Foundation.

Among the grants awarded by Verizon in 2008 were:

Women's Fund of Rhode Island - $20,000 to facilitate a Domestic Violence Technology Solutions/Social Change Request For Proposals (RFP) for community organizations across Rhode Island to apply for funding in order to address the deeply rooted issues -- both societal and institutional -- that contribute to the victimization of women through domestic violence.

Crossroads Rhode Island - $10,000 for a Family Domestic Violence Prevention Program to provide information on a variety of issues including safety plans, domestic violence prevention and building healthy relationships.

Day One - $5,000 in support of The Rhode Island Children's Advocacy Center (CAC), which provides evaluation, evidence gathering and treatment services to child victims of sexual and/or physical abuse and their non-offending family members.

Dorcas Place - $10,000 to enhance its Family Literacy Program providing intensive ESOL education for limited English proficient (LEP) families statewide.

International Institute - $9,000 to enhance the Institute's Education & Training program and encourage the development of English language, life and job skills to help students become financially independent and contribute positively to their communities.

Junior Achievement - $10,000 for the JA Economics for Success program, which explores personal finance and students' education and career options based on their skills, interests and values.  The program is a series of six activities recommended for students in grades 6, 7 and 8.

The Apeiron Institute - $5,000  to promote the RI Sustainable Schools Network (SSN), a central vehicle for Apeiron and its partners to help schools reduce waste and exposure to toxins, conserve energy, reduce costs, and take actions to improve physical and environmental well-being in their facilities and curricula.

The College Crusade of Rhode Island - $6,500 to support The Crusade's Adventures in Literacy Saturday Program, which provides 6th grade students with the foundational literacy skills needed to succeed in school and prepare students for higher education.

Harmony Hill School - $5,000 for Smartboards in the Classroom to help teachers teach children with learning disabilities and improve the learning environment for students.

Rhode Island Department of Education - $25,000 to train teachers to use the Verizon Foundation’s online, curriculum resource tool, Thinkfinity.org.

Thinkfinity is the cornerstone of Verizon Foundation's Literacy, Education and Technology initiatives. This free, comprehensive digital learning platform is built upon the merger of two highly-acclaimed programs well-known to educators Verizon MarcoPolo and the Thinkfinity Literacy Network. Thinkfinity is designed to improve learning in traditional settings and beyond the classroom by providing high-caliber content and professional development needed to improve student achievement anytime, anywhere, at no cost.  Learn more.

Visit the Verizon Foundation site for more information.

Apply for a Verizon Foundation grant online.