Verizon announces three grant recipients for its $10 million commitment to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

HOUSTON, Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon today announced three organizations that will receive grants as part of its $10 million pledge to fund Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. 

The recipients are:  

• The Greater Houston Community Foundation-Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund for Houston (https://ghcf.org)
• The One Star Foundation (http://onestarfoundation.org) and
• Salvation Army Southern Territory (http://salvationarmysouth.org)

The dollars are being earmarked for both the immediate and long-term relief and recovery efforts in the areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

Verizon will share details on a fourth grant recipient in the coming weeks as the company works with local and state government officials in determining how to best serve the recovery effort. 

"When our communities are suffering, and our customers and employees are impacted, we not only feel it's our role, but it is our responsibility to step up and help however possible," said Verizon Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam. "The recovery won't be quick or easy, but South Texas can count on us to be there, working hand in hand with these great organizations."

Verizon is also offering support for the relief efforts in the following ways:

• Relieving postpaid customers of data, talk and text charges and giving prepaid customers an extra 3 GB to be used for data, talk and text from August 26 through September 15. The September 15 date reflects a one-week extension to what was previously announced.
• Deploying mobile equipment including Cells on Wheels (COWs), and Cells on Light Trucks (COLTS) to supplement service in areas of South Texas that need extra network capacity. Verizon has staged additional equipment and is prepared for rapid deployment as needed in hard-hit areas. This initiative is part of a network investment of nearly $1 billion in 2016 in the state of Texas.
• Working closely with several federal and local government agencies to help support first responders on the ground with much needed communications services.
• Staffing shelters with Verizon employees in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio to assist first responders and displaced residents with mobile charging, internet access and other communications needs.
• Along with its subsidiary Oath, the company is providing financial support to residents of Houston and South Texas with dollar-for-dollar matches of employees' contributions to select relief-focused organizations. Oath also will match consumers' contributions to select relief-focused organizations when they donate after visiting one of Oath's web properties. More information can be found at https://yahoo.benevity.org/community.
• Offering emergency financial assistance to employees who have been affected by this tragedy though both its employee assistance program and its VtoV program where employees can donate funds to help fellow employees affected by a natural or personal disaster. In addition, to reinforce our long- term commitment to the communities we serve, Verizon will be offering its more than 10,000 employees who work in the states of Texas and Louisiana the opportunity to volunteer for the Harvey recovery effort over the coming months and receive up to a week of paid volunteer time.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York City, has a diverse workforce of 163,400 and generated nearly $126 billion in 2016 revenues. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network and the nation's premier all-fiber network, and delivers integrated solutions to businesses worldwide. Its Oath subsidiary houses more than 50 media and technology brands that engage about 1 billion people around the world.

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SOURCE Verizon