Verizon Volunteers is one of the largest corporate employee volunteer programs in the United States. The program encourages Verizon employees to give back to their communities, donating both time and money, and it provides matching gifts and foundation grants to the nonprofit organizations employees support. In 2003, Verizon employees donated 595,000 hours and provided $34.6 million in combined contributions through this program.

Verizon Volunteers gives employees the opportunity to donate up to an additional $23,750 a year to the nonprofit agencies of their choice. Employees can donate to eligible nonprofit organizations in the United States that are tax exempt as a 501(c)(3) under IRS laws.

All active Verizon employees are eligible, including Information Services, International, Telecom, and Verizon Wireless. An active employee is one who is on Verizon's payroll for 90 days or more and who works full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary.

"Our employees continue to make a difference not only by providing outstanding service to our customers but also by carrying on our century-old tradition of volunteering," said Heather Cave, Director - Employee Volunteerism. "Whether it's tutoring students in after school programs; working to improve literacy among people of all ages; or lending a helping-hand at domestic violence shelters, Verizon employees are always working to improve our communities."

Verizon Volunteers is web-based so employees have more flexibility and options for choosing nonprofit agencies. A web portal on the foundation site links employees to information about volunteer organizations. And, since this is a paperless program, employees log their volunteer hours and donations online or through a toll-free call.

The program's low operating cost allows 100 percent of employees' donations to go directly to the charity of their choice. All eligible donations are matched at the end of each quarter.