As part of its mission of corporate responsibility, the Verizon company established the Verizon Foundation. The foundation acts as the philanthropic arm of Verizon and offers financial support, programs and services dealing with a variety of social issues including education, public safety and health. The foundation sponsors a number of scholarships for college and high school students and the Verizon Wireless company also partners with outside organizations to fund and award additional scholarships.

Verizon Foundation Scholarship Program

Open to high school seniors who are dependents of a current Verizon employee, the Verizon Foundation Scholarship Programs awards $5,000 scholarships. Administered by Scholarship America, the scholarships are renewable up to three years for a total scholarship amount of $20,000 per student. To be eligible, a student must be a graduating high school senior, attending a two or four-year institution in the fall and have a parent who has worked for Verizon for at least 90 days prior to the student applying for the scholarship. Scholarship winners are based on financial need, academic merit and participation in extracurricular school and community activities.

Verizon Wireless/UNCF Black History Month Essay Contest

Partnering with the United Negro College Fund, Verizon Wireless offers the Black History Month Essay Contest that awards $2,500 to $5,000 to 37 students each year. Students must be residents of one of 27 participating states, be a graduating high school senior and have a minimum 2.0 grade point average. Along with scholarship money, winning students may also receive a new laptop, cell phone and Verizon gift cards. The 500-word essay must address how technology has changed the world and can be submitted online along with the application through the UNCF website.

Violence Against Women and Children Verizon Wireless HopeLine Scholarships

Graduate students at Rutgers University in New Jersey who are interested in a career working to combat violence against women and children qualify for the HopeLine Scholarships. Verizon Wireless and Rutgers Center on Violence Against Women and Children work together to fund and administer the $1,500 scholarships. Requirements to receive the award include completing 12 hours of coursework and field work related to violence against women and children, and presenting a paper at the HopeLine colloquium held once a year.

Domestic Violence Survivor Scholarships

In 2010, Verizon Wireless partnered with Cape Fear Community College and Central Piedmont Community College to offer Domestic Violence Survivor Scholarships, which provides tuition money to a victim and survivor of domestic violence. The $2,000 scholarship covers tuition, books and other educational fees for a student at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Central Piedmont Community in Charlotte. Nominations for the scholarship at Cape Fear Community College come from Wilmington’s Domestic Violence Shelter and Services. The Cape Fear Community College Foundation chooses a winner.

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