Japan-Relief Contributions From Verizon Foundation and Company Employees Top $800,000

NEW YORK – April 5, 2011 –

The Verizon Foundation and Verizon employees have pledged more than $800,000 to support earthquake-tsunami relief efforts in Japan.

The donations were raised through the Verizon employee disaster-relief matching-gift program. Under the program, the Verizon Foundation will match employee donations dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 per employee, to three nonprofit organizations - American Red Cross, Save the Children and World Vision - that are providing aid in Japan.

"Verizon employees have a strong tradition of mobilizing quickly to assist communities in need," said Verizon Foundation President Rose Kirk. "We are proud to join the thousands of Verizon employees and customers who have offered support for the people of Japan during the long recovery process."

The employee matching-gift campaign is part of Verizon's overall efforts to assist relief efforts in Japan.

Verizon Wireless has made it easy for customers to support relief efforts in Japan by implementing a mobile-giving program to give customers a secure and quick way to contribute to charitable organizations.  Customers can make a $10 donation by simply sending a text message and may choose from among 10 organizations aiding those in need in Japan. 

To help its customers contact loved ones in Japan, Verizon has enabled most wireless and residential customers to make free calls to that country through April 10. In addition, Verizon Wireless post-paid customers in the U.S. will receive free text and multimedia messaging to Japan, also through April 10.

Verizon Wireless also produced a public service announcement featuring leading Asian-American actors who donated their time for the filming.  The announcement encourages donations to further the relief efforts and has run on FiOS, V CAST and Verizon's online sites.  To view the announcement, see a list of relief organizations accepting donation pledges for Japan through text messaging, and learn of the company's other relief efforts, visit http://news.vzw.com/JapanInfo.html. 

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Pink slip protection offered by mobile phone company

Apr 9th 2009 at 7:00PM

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Virgin Mobile is the latest company to offer price protection for customers who lose their jobs.
Starting April 15, the phone company will offer what it calls "Pink Slip Protection" that will pay for three months of its service for new and existing customers who lose their jobs. Customers must prove that they're eligible for state unemployment benefits, and must have one of Virgin Mobile USA's prepaid monthly plans that don't have annual contracts.
While three free months of cell phone use while looking for a job may not sound like much time, it's a start that should help people get back on their feet and find a job, said Bob Stohrer, chief marketing officer for Virgin Mobile.
"We hope that what we're helping people to do is get themselves situated and back into employment," Stohrer told me in a telephone interview.
Like many companies offering help to people who lose their jobs -- Walgreens, Ford, Hyundai, FedEx Office, and others -- it's a tactic to build the brand and help create customer loyalty. After all, if a business helped you when times were tough, maybe you're more likely to stick with them for the long haul.
Virgin Mobile's Stohrer admitted as much, saying the Pink Slip Protection plan could tip the scales for someone looking to buy a cell phone amid all the prepaid phone choices out there.
"Anybody who takes advantage of this is going to become a better customer for us in the long-term," he said.
The national unemployment rate is 8.5%, so its probably safe to assume that about the same percentage of cell phone customers are unemployed and could use this plan. At a time when having a cell phone is no longer a luxury but a necessity, especially when looking for a job, Virgin Mobile customers may flock to the program when it starts April 15.
"You rely on your cellphone even more when you're out of a job" and networking and trying to get ahold of employers, Stohrer said.
Customers must have a Virgin Mobile monthly plan for at least two consecutive months to be eligible for the pink slip plan. People with one of its text-only plans are also eligible, although texting to request a job interview isn't recommended.
Getting a helping hand, if only for three months, is still a helping hand.
"We're trying to help somebody get back on their feet and manage costs when they're really tight," Stohrer said.

Aaron Crowe is an unemployed journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read about his job search at www.AaronCrowe.net

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