Last Call to Enter Verizon’s National Contest to Discover the ’Hardest Working Small Biz Dad’

NEW YORK - With Father’s Day fast approaching, the Verizon Small Business team has launched a contest to recognize fathers across America who run their own business.

Fathers who are entrepreneurs can enter the Verizon Hardest Working Small Biz Dad contest (www.verizon.com/smallbizdad) by submitting a short video or written blog post about a day in their lives and some of the challenges they face running a business and managing their family.

The first-prize winner will receive $5,000; a year of free cleaning service (valued at $2,400), and other valuable prizes.

“Many of Verizon’s small-business customers are microbusinesses that often are started by entrepreneurs working from their homes,” said David Wasserman, director of small business product management for Verizon. “We want the many father entrepreneurs we have to tell us more about what they’re doing, how they’re doing it, and what it really takes to run a business and care for a family.”

[NOTE: To view a video of David Wasserman introducing the Verizon Hardest Working Small Biz Dad contest, click here.]

Verizon’s Hardest Working Small Biz Dad contest runs through Sunday, (June 19), which is Father’s Day, and all entries must be submitted by then.

The contest is open to both Verizon and Verizon Wireless customers (Internet, TV or phone - wireless and landline). Contestants must submit a brief video (not to exceed two minutes) at www.verizon.com/smallbizdad or a blog post (maximum 325 words) at verizon.com/smallbizblog. All contestants must complete the entry form at www.verizon.com/smallbizdad. (Click on the “Small Biz Dad” link) to enter the contest.)

In addition to the first-prize winner, Verizon will also select a second-prize winner, who will receive a $1,000 prepaid gift card and a $600 Apple gift card; and a third-prize winner, who will receive a $500 prepaid gift card. The first-, second- and third-prize winners will also receive six months free of either Verizon Websites powered by Intuit, which enables businesses to quickly and easily design and set up their own website, or Intuit WebListings Premium, for those winners whose businesses already have a website. The latter service gets company websites listed on popular search sites.

For more information and contest rules, visit www.verizon.com/smallbizdad or click here. The Ladies Who Launch, a company that promotes women entrepreneurs, offers contest tips in this short video, which was used for the Verizon Hardest Working Small Biz Mom contest last month and demonstrates how qualifying contestants can create a video.

For exclusive insights from Verizon, news, tips and more, follow Verizon Small Biz on Twitter (www.twitter.com/VZSmallBiz), become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/verizonsmallbiz), or read the Verizon Small Biz Blog (www.verizon.com/smallbusinessblog).

In addition to Internet, TV and phone service, Verizon also offers small businesses many cloud-based, or online, services such as encryption and security solutions, plus an easy do-it-yourself website design application, and additional discounts on supplies and shipping. Visit the Verizon Small Business Center at http://business.verizon.net for more information.

More information on Verizon’s products and services for small businesses is also available by calling 888-481-0387 or visiting www.verizon.com/smallbusiness.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.