Aug 29, 2017   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Verizon commits $10 million to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts

HOUSTON, Aug. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon today announced support of South Texas through a $10 million pledge to fund Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The nation's most reliable wireless provider has partnered with local and state government officials to identify four non-profit agencies to support that are working on-the-ground on both immediate and long-term needs. Verizon will share the specific details regarding the non-profits in the coming days.

"It is heartbreaking to witness a disaster of this magnitude; our hearts and full support go out to the communities being impacted by Hurricane Harvey, including our own customers and employees," said Verizon Chairman & CEO Lowell McAdam. "Verizon is committed to working alongside disaster relief partners to help return a sense of normalcy to residents and restore the areas impacted by the storm. Houston and South Texas are vital to the fabric of America and we want to be on the front lines of the rebuilding efforts."

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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Related Links
http://www.verizon.com/
https://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.verizonenterprise.com/
http://www.verizon.com/about/

Media contact:
Jeannine Brew
972.444.5233
jeannine.brew@verizonwireless.com
Twitter: @JeannineBrew

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SOURCE Verizon