NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the
devastation Hurricanes Irma and Maria wrought on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in September, Verizon
announced an initial pledge of $1
million to help with recovery efforts. Shortly following
Hurricane Maria, and learning of the magnitude of the damage left
by the storm, Verizon pledged an additional $4 million and a commitment to identify
organizations that could provide significant long-term recovery
assistance to the islands.
"We dove into the rebuilding effort in a concrete way," said
Verizon Chairman and CEO Lowell
McAdam. "While Verizon doesn't operate a wireless network in
Puerto Rico nor in the
U.S. Virgin Islands, we are deeply
connected to the communities there, through our customers and our
employees. In fact, Verizon employees with family and friends in
Puerto Rico provided input about
the organizations that are positioned to help with the necessary
long-term rebuilding that needs to take place."
Today, Verizon announced the four organizations that will
receive grants as part of its $5
million pledge to fund Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria
relief efforts in Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The recipients are:
- World Vision, whose focus is on providing life-saving
essentials and long-term support will receive $1 million to help families on the islands.
- Friends of Puerto Rico,
identified by Verizon employees for its mission to build the future
of Puerto Rico and its commitment
to invest 100% of the funds in the islands, will receive
$1 million.
- The Salvation Army, with a long-term presence in
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, The Salvation Army was
positioned to serve the residents immediate needs of clothing,
food, cleanup kits and emotional assistance and will receive
$1 million to help fund those
efforts.
- American Red Cross, was identified following the storms
for their ability to provide relief supplies, satellite phones and
emergency shelters to Puerto Rico
and U.S. Virgin Island residents, immediately following the storms
and will receive $2 million for those
specific needs.
Each grant will be directed entirely to the relief efforts in
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin
Islands Hurricane relief efforts and meets the Verizon Foundation's
grant requirements of being a recognizable charitable 501 ( c
)(3).
"Recovery is far from over, and it's heartbreaking to witness
the disasters that have affected so many over the past two months.
I'm proud of how our customers, V Team employees and the Verizon
Foundation responded to the call for help," said McAdam.
In addition to the $5 million
going to the four organizations, Verizon is also supporting relief
efforts in other ways, including:
- Verizon customers generously donated $1.8 million through a Verizon text-to-donate
program from the Mobile Giving Foundation.
- Verizon employees donated to select hurricane relief-focused
organizations that were matched by the Verizon Foundation,
dollar-for-dollar, for a combined total of nearly $1 million.
- Verizon engineers have been on the ground for weeks assisting
our roaming partners on the islands, resolving roaming service
issues, offering support to carriers and coordinating with federal
agencies when requested.
- An efemto cell (miniature cell site) was shipped and set up in
an emergency response team command center in San Juan to provide communications for
officials helping coordinate recovery efforts, along with shared
devices with leaders who were coordinating the recovery.
- A shipping container is expected to leave the port of
Jacksonville, Florida in the
coming days, and will include:
-
- Portable equipment, including several generators to supply our
roaming partners, Claro and Open Mobile, with backup power for
their cell sites.
- Another generator is designated for the University of Puerto Rico.
- Network equipment such as wireless antennas, and two mobile
cell sites –a Cell on Wheels (COW) and a Cell on Light Truck,
(CoLT) to assist agencies with the recovery efforts.
- 44 laptops to help local regulators with their initiative known
as "Stop and Go" bringing Internet access to residents allowing
them to apply for aid and communicate with friends and loved ones.
Doubling the number of Internet access locations currently
available to residents.
Verizon will continue to assist our roaming partners, and the
residents of Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands in the coming
months as rebuilding continues.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in
New York City, has a diverse
workforce of 160,100 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 reaches about one billion people
around the world with a dynamic house of media and technology
brands.
VERIZON'S ONLINE MEDIA CENTER: News releases, stories, media
contacts and other resources are available
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visit www.verizon.com/about/rss-feeds/.
Media contact:
Albert
Aydin
908-559-7513
@albertaydin
Kim Ancin
908-801-0500
Kimberly.ancin@verizonwireless.com
Related Links
http://www.verizon.com/
https://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.verizonenterprise.com/
http://www.verizon.com/about/
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SOURCE Verizon