Nov. 4, 2009 (PR Newswire) -- THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Four nonprofit organizations serving the disabled community in California have received $76,000 in grants to support their literacy programs, thanks to Verizon telephone customers in the state who participate in Verizon's Check Into Literacy program.

The program enables Verizon's landline telephone customers to support literacy by checking a box on their monthly phone bills to make a $1 tax-deductible donation to promote literacy throughout the U.S. Verizon then distributes these donations to local literacy organizations that serve the state the customers live in.

"Advancing literacy in our communities can be as easy as checking a box," said Elva Lima, Verizon vice president, strategic programs. "Verizon customers who participate in this program show how much they care about our communities through their donations, and we applaud them for it."

Verizon awarded literacy grants to the following organizations:

    --  Ability First, Claremont - $36,000 for its after-school enrichment
program, which improves the literacy of people with developmental
disabilities through a customized curriculum and the use of adaptive and
assistive technologies.

    --  The Horizon Education Program, Claremont - $20,000 for its peer tutoring
project, an after-school program that matches student-tutors with
disabilities to their classmates.  Students will prepare for the English
and math portions of the California High School Exit Examination
(CAHSEE).

    --  Assistance League of Covina Valley, Covina - $10,000 for its literacy
tutoring for learning-disabled students program, which provides
individual literacy instruction for K-12 students.

    --  Rescue Mission Alliance, Oxnard - $10,000 for the Learn, Live and Thrive
Learning Center, which provides literacy and educational training for
residents of the center's facilities. Ninety percent of the residents
have physical, mental or other disabilities.

Thanks to the generosity of Verizon customers who support Check Into Literacy, nonprofit organizations in 23 states and Washington, D.C., will receive more than $1.1 million this year to bolster literacy efforts.

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. In 2008, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $68 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26 million in combined contributions to nonprofits. 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. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon