$22,000 Grant from Verizon

(Jennifer P. Young, of Verizon New Jersey Southern External Affairs, presents Walnut Street School Principal, Dr. Jeffrey Adams, with a check for $22,000.)

Woodbury Public Schools received a $22,000 grant from Verizon Foundation. For the second time in three years, the Verizon Foundation has awarded the Woodbury Public Schools a grant to support innovative programs that will provide a focus on literacy development.

Verizon and Woodbury originally partnered on a literacy project during the 2006-2007 school year through a $10,000 grant award. At that time, an after school reading program was launched at the West End Memorial School and Walnut Street School. During that pilot program, the district was able to utilize a computer based reading program developed by MindPlay Corporation, called My Reading Coach – Platinum Edition.

This year, through the Verizon grant coupled with in-district funds, the program has evolved to include all three elementary schools. The extra support will consist of an after school program as well as academic intervention during the regular school day; both efforts will utilize computer based interventions. The district has also acquired a new piece of computer software from the MindPlay Corporation to assist instructional staff entitled, “Fluent Reader Trainer”.

The Woodbury School District believes that that this partnership with Verizon, coupled with in-district resources and highly qualified instructional staff, will provide the elementary school students involved with extra resources necessary for academic success.

About the Verizon Foundation:

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its signature program, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.

In 2007, the foundation awarded more than $67.4 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $25.1 million in combined contributions. 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 Verizon’s inception in 2000.

This year, thanks to the generosity of Verizon customers who participated in the company’s Check Into Literacy program, 39 nonprofit organizations throughout New Jersey are receiving $325,000 in grants to support their literacy programs. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

See GCT article