President’s Message
Patrick R. Gaston
President, Verizon Foundation
On January 12, 2010, Haiti experienced the highest earthquake death toll in more than three decades. Individuals, corporations and government agencies answered Haiti's call for help by supporting relief and recovery efforts. The Verizon Foundation acted quickly not only to donate much—needed funds but to enable others — customers and Verizon employees — to maximize their generosity as well. In the week following the disaster, Verizon was proud to set an example of corporate responsibility by enabling mobile text donations in partnership with the American Red Cross.
As American citizens, in spite of our challenges, many of us are truly fortunate in countless ways. But none of us has the luxury of overlooking the tremendous obstacles faced by communities around the globe. And at no point in time has communications technology played such an important role in providing crucial services to those in dire need. The outpouring of support gives us reason to pause and reflect on what we can accomplish when we all come together.
The passion to lead corporate philanthropy efforts and create a stronger, wiser, and healthier nation and world stands at the core of the Verizon Foundation's mission. That passion, in turn, stems from the hearts, minds, and hands of Verizon's employees, Verizon's retirees, and partnerships we create with nonprofit organizations that have deep ties in their communities. This boundless spirit of giving and limitless problem—solving talent are the agents of change in our country and are the hallmark of our work as a foundation.
We intend to continue our everyday dedication to our communities by focusing Verizon's technical, financial, and human resources capabilities in two essential areas of social well—being: literacy and education, and safety and health. Both continue to represent alarming issues for a large portion of our population: within the U.S., over two-thirds of students score below proficiency levels in both math and reading and 20-35% score below basic levels. And nearly one in four women (25%), one in nine men, and over 3 million children in the U.S. experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Through Verizon Thinkfinity.org and strategic grant partnerships, Verizon Foundation continues to advocate tirelessly to cultivate large-scale change in these areas, helping transform the lives of current and future generations.
We believe that true leadership means creating partnerships, rolling up your sleeves, and leveraging your innovation as a company to make a difference. Verizon and its partners are proud of our successes in 2009, but there is much more to accomplish in the coming decade. We will not tire in our efforts—whether for relief in Haiti or academic success for students in any American city—until we achieve our vision.
