NEW YORK - Nonprofit organizations engaged in work force development and literacy initiatives for New Yorkers are invited to compete for $500,000 in grants to be distributed this year by Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications.
The foundation has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking applications from nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organizations and eligible educational institutions serving people within Verizon New York's service area, as well as Greenwich and Byram, Conn. areas served by Verizon. Grant proposals are due by June 15. The foundation will award one-year grants, ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 each. Preference will be given to projects and programs that involve partnerships among nonprofit organizations.
''The future economic health of our region depends on a skilled and literate work force,'' said Paul Crotty, group president for Verizon in New York and Connecticut. ''We are eager to support creative and innovative initiatives that use current and emerging technology to help create a skilled work force, provide opportunities for personal growth for the participants, and result in long-term, sustainable benefits for the community.
''We're particularly interested in proposals relating to work force preparation and computer literacy training for individuals who are seeking work but lack the skills needed in today's new economy,'' Crotty said.
To promote technology and more effectively serve the nonprofit community, Verizon Foundation has made all of its programs available online. The foundation requires that all grant applications be made online at its Web site (www.verizon.com/foundation). On the Web site, click on the New York State/Connecticut Workforce Development and Literacy RFP link.
Grant recipients will be announced on Sept. 27.
Verizon Foundation supports a variety of programs that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, bridging the digital divide, enriching communities through technology and creating a skilled work force. The foundation promotes partnerships in technology with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, and the economically and socially disadvantaged across the United States and selected foreign countries. The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that encourages Verizon employees to volunteer in their communities and provides matching gifts for nonprofit organizations.