News

Verizon Donates $65,000 to North Texas Future Fund for Literacy
Donation to Benefit Workplace Literacy for Adults, Families and Employers
November 19, 2009

David Russell awarded the North Texas Future Fund $65,000 from the Verizon Foundation to support the workplace literacy initiative in North Texas. The grant from the Verizon Foundation will enable the NTFF to effect adult literacy improvement by working with area employers who will lend both onsite training facilities and trainers for workplace literacy instruction. Pictured from left: David Russell, Verizon; Wendy Lopez, North Texas Commission Chairwoman; and Dan S. Petty, North Texas Commission President and CEO.

IRVING, Texas - The North Texas Future Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving critical issues affecting North Texas' growth, received a grant of $65,000 from the Verizon Foundation to fund the organization's workplace literacy project in cooperation with regional employers from a cross-section of industries and with professional educators from area community colleges. The North Texas Future Fund is a program of the North Texas Commission.

The donation, presented by David Russell, vice president, external affairs for Verizon Communications, will enable the North Texas Future Fund to build needed training capacity and to effect adult literacy improvement by working with cooperating employers who will lend both onsite training facilities and volunteers who will also be educated in literacy training techniques so that those volunteers may assume this initiative at those worksites after establishment.

"Without the support of Verizon Communications and the Verizon Foundation, we would not be able to ensure that the region has a well-qualified, literate workforce," said Dan S. Petty, president and CEO of the North Texas Commission and North Texas Future Fund. "Not only does Verizon provide financial support, but the organization also provides the time and leadership of individuals like David Russell."

"The North Texas Future Fund has developed an essential regional literacy program that will permit many low-literacy working adults to be able to change their lives through the enrichment and empowerment that higher literacy will deliver," said Carl Erhart, Verizon Southwest Region President. "This grant from Verizon will fund a unique region-wide program that will build a better future for the employees and families involved as well as strengthen the workforce base for all employers who are trying to meet the growing demand for a literate workforce to compete in today's global marketplace."

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2008, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $68 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26 million in combined contributions to nonprofits. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 3 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

The North Texas Future Fund was established as a 501(c)3 in 2001. The founding leaders instituted a vision and mission that called to action collaborative efforts in North Texas to identify critical issues in education and development of a quality workforce and to develop proactive strategies to address these issues.

Established in 1971, the North Texas Commission is a regional non-profit consortium of businesses, cities, counties, chambers of commerce, economic development entities and higher education institutions in the North Texas Region. The Commission is the one and only public-private regional organization committed to enhancing the overall economic vitality and quality of life of North Texas. NTC improves the economy, infrastructure and lifestyle of North Texas by leading and directing regionally cooperative initiatives to accomplish objectives in four primary areas: transportation, aviation, environment and long-range strategies.