March 2010 - Vol. 5 / Issue 5
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Shower for Shelters donations
Step up and become a building coordinator for the Shower for the Shelter program. This initiative is the Verizon Foundation's signature annual employee giving campaign in support of the domestic violence awareness and prevention social cause. This year's campaign will run from May 3 - 21.
  • Raise awareness for your location's campaign by displaying promotional materials (posters, flyers, etc.) locally;
  • Obtain, set up and oversee collection boxes during the campaign;
  • Sort, pack and coordinate the collection of donated items at conclusion of collection drive with representatives of local domestic violence shelters assigned to your work locations; and
  • Track and report results of your location's drive to the Verizon Foundation Employee Engagement team.
You can sign-up online before COB Friday, April 9, to volunteer for your work location's campaign team.

The Vera House in Syracuse, NY, was delighted to received donations from the local Verizon office through its 2009 Shower for the Shelter. Donors included (l-r:) Bob Swizdor, Stephanie Piston, Randi Bregman and Ann Marie Gionet.
Our Troops say "Thank You"
Soldiers
Dear Gerry,

We received the great care packages you all sent the other day. I would like to thank you and the Pioneers once again for being so supportive and caring. From all my Brothers and Sisters in uniform let me say we are all very grateful for your efforts. In honor of the Pioneers we are going to fly a United States Flag over the Kandahar Air Field in your honor. Then we are going to take that flag with us on a Aero-Medical Evacuation mission and fly it in the Aircraft. Accompanying that flag for you will also be a certificate of appreciation stating our gratitude for everything you all have done for the Troops. Once again, Gerry, thank you and please pass on our gratitude to all the Verizon Pioneers.

God Bless you all,
TSGT Mark Russak

Gerry McLaughlin is secretary of the Fort Pitt Chapter. TSGT Russak (on left holding T-shirt) received one of the care packages that was packed at the Atlanta Annual Meeting in February.
Vice President's Project
Sports Jamboree
Make new Pioneer friends and help individuals ages eight to 25 who are in wheelchairs or have visual impairment enjoy a weekend of sports and social events. This year's Vice President's Project, hosted by the Kinnard Pioneers, is the Sports Jamboree in Fort Indiantown Gap, PA, June 24-27.

Individual events include races, archery, horseshoes, Frisbee throw, and basketball free throw. Fun team events include wheelchair basketball games and a softball game for blind participants. Contestants can compete in as many events as they want. During the award ceremony on Sunday, every participant receives individual acknowledgment, a trophy, and a medal!

Volunteers are needed for construction, registration, hosting and security. For more information and to register, please visit the Kinnard Chapter website.
President Obama says "Thanks!"
Presidential Seal
Congratulations on receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award, and thank you for helping to address the most pressing needs in your community and our country.

In my Inaugural Address, I stated that we need a new era of responsibility - a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our Nation, and the world. These are duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit than giving our all to a difficult task. Your volunteer service demonstrates the kind of commitment to your community that moves America a step closer to its great promise.

Our Nation faces the most challenging economic crisis in a lifetime. We will only renew America if we all work together. Individuals, the private sector, and government must combine efforts to make real and lasting change so that each person has the opportunity to fulfill his or her potential.

While government can open more opportunities for us to serve our communities, it is up to each of us to seize these opportunities. Thank you for your devotion to service and for doing all you can to shape a better tomorrow for our great Nation.

Barack Obama
President of the United States of America

During February's Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Gabe Olah, Ron Simpson, Mary McCarthy and Jackie Gunn accepted the recognition for Verizon, Frontier, FairPoint and Telcordia's dedication to the Talking Books Repair program and received Presidential Service Awards from President Obama and a certificate of achievement. The local Talking Book repair folks will be recognized by their chapters.
Mother Goose Reads Again!
Mother Goose
On March 12, the "Mother Goose Reads" program was given to 22 preschool children at the Tender Shepherd School in East Meadow, New York. Camille Rutkowski and Dorothy Schiavone of the Paumanok Chapter read stories to the classes. Also in attendance were Dominick Schiavone, Robert Timmes and Marge and Hank Koehler. The teachers were very happy to receive the nursery rhyme books.
Thinkfinity Brochures Now Available
Thinkfinity Brochure Image
Know a group that might benefit from Thinkfinity's educational resources? We now have four-color, tri-fold information brochures available for you to distribute to schools, libraries, non-profit organizations and youth groups. Simply contact your chapter president for copies.

For our 21st century teachers, parents and kids, www.thinkfinity.org is a website sponsored by the Verizon Foundation in partnership with 11 of the most trusted names in education, including the Smithsonian's History Explorer, Literacy Network, and Science NetLinks. Launched in 2007, Thinkfinity provides teachers with timesaving classroom resources and innovative lesson plans. Thinkfinity offers students unique resources for projects and reports. Students also can participate in fun and challenging online games. Parents can take their children on virtual field trips, attend online courses, and view educational podcasts.
Belmont Child Care Association says "Thanks!"
Easter Baskets
Dear Verizon Pioneers,

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to you and everyone at the Verizon Pioneers who helped to make our children at Anna House feel the spirit of the holiday season this Spring. The Spring containers of wrapped goodies were thoughtful and beautiful. They will certainly be a welcome surprise to our children.

Our mission is to create quality childcare for our children. We recognize that despite the hardships in their lives, our Anna House children come to us with ideas, interests, and curiosities that we need to flourish. Reaching our goal is an ongoing process and we are fortunate to have an organization such as the Verizon Pioneers to help us. We hope that your organization will visit Anna House in the near future.

Gratefully,
Donna Chenkin
Executive Director
Belmont Child Care Association
Elmont, NY

If you're receiving this issue at work, the design might be compromised because company firewalls are blocking the coding. You may view a clean version on the Verizon Pioneers' website. If you'd prefer a version be sent to your home e-mail address, please e-mail newsletter@verizonpioneers.org and we'll exchange your e-mail addresses.


Verizon/Frontier/FairPoint/Telcordia Pioneers
P.O. Box 4406 . Salem, MA 01970

phone: 978.745.9600