Nonprofit groups in Florida that focused on education programs, domestic violence prevention, and using technology to deliver or enhance health care received more than $1.9 million in 2011 from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon.

“Verizon is proud to support key nonprofit organizations throughout the nation that are helping to make a positive impact on society, especially in our local communities,” said Michelle Robinson, Verizon’s South area vice president, government affairs. “We will continue our support in 2012 and look forward to using the innovative power of Verizon’s network and technology to further enhance these vital programs.”

In addition to the grants, the Verizon Foundation matches donations made by Verizon employees. The Verizon Foundation also supports employee volunteerism by awarding a $750 grant to a nonprofit organization when a Verizon employee volunteers 50 hours or more to the organization during the year.  Last year, Verizon employees volunteered more than 54,000 hours to nonprofit groups throughout Florida.

The programs and organizations supported by the Verizon Foundation in 2011 include:

• The Spring, Tampa – $15,000 for the I Own Me campaign, designed to address teen dating violence prevention through an emphasis on establishing healthy personal boundaries in all areas of life.

• Orlando Health Foundation, Orlando – $15,000 for Teen Xpress, a program designed positively impact the quality of life for underserved youth by providing access to medical and behavioral health care. Teen Xpress offers an innovative array of medical and psychosocial services that are comprehensive, community-based and teen-friendly.

• Camillus House, Miami – $20,000 to support the Camillus House Educational Empowerment Resources (CHEER) program, which addresses children’s educational, creative, physical fitness and life skills needs.  Case managers will create individual student case plans to address and improve students' academic outcomes.

The Verizon Foundation helps people to live healthy, safe and independent lives by addressing disparities in education, health care and sustainability. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live.  Verizon’s employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.2 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.