Verizon Named A Top Corporate Philanthropist by Puget Sound Business Journal

The Puget Sound Business Journal recently named Verizon one of the top companies in Washington for corporate philanthropy.

Verizon was one of 25 large companies included in the business journal's top 75 list. The winners were announced on May 7^th at the publication's Corporate Citizenship Awards luncheon.

The Verizon Foundation awarded $365,000 to nonprofits in the state of Washington in 2008, including grants to Central Washington University, Eastside Domestic Violence Program, Edmonds Community College Foundation, Everett Community College Foundation, Greater Trinity Christian Learning Academy and Learning Seed.

"Businesses can be - and increasingly are - an enormous force for improving our community, far above and beyond the effects of the economic opportunity they create. The Puget Sound region is a world leader in this regard, and the time has come to fully measure, recognize and celebrate the role of business in creating this healthy community," said Emory Thomas, editor of the business journal. "At this time of economic challenge, this celebration, and the messages it conveys, has never been more urgently important."

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 3 million hours of community service since 2000.