Verizon Foundation announces $1 million grant to American Red Cross to assist in Hurricane Florence relief

The Verizon Foundation today announced support for communities impacted by Hurricane Florence through a $1 million grant to the American Red Cross to assist in relief efforts. Additionally, between September 12, 2018 and September 28, 2018, the Verizon Foundation will match all U.S.-based Verizon employees donations of $25 or more made via the Verizon Foundation matching gift webpage, up to $1,000 per employee, to the American Red Cross. Donations are tax deductible.

“Verizon stands ready to support first responders, our customers and employees in the path of Hurricane Florence,” said Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon. “We will provide free calls, texts and data to those impacted by the storm and will continue to work closely with partners like the American Red Cross to provide resources to help our neighbors and communities recover as quickly as possible.”

“Time and time again, the American Red Cross answers the call to do whatever it takes to provide relief,” said Steve Spinner, Interim Chief Development Officer, American Red Cross. “In hurricanes and other natural disasters, we are there to provide comfort and help lead recovery efforts, and partnerships like the one with the Verizon Foundation make it possible to help a widening circle of people across communities, making a huge difference in peoples’ lives.” 

Verizon Wireless customers can also join the relief and recovery effort by contributing support to help those affected by Hurricane Florence. Verizon Wireless customers can use their mobile phone to make tax deductible donations in increments of $10, up $100 per customer, to the American Red Cross or GlobalGiving, which are responding to the needs of individuals and communities affected by the storm. Customers can make a $10 donation by simply texting FLORENCE to the organizations’ designated short code: 

• American Red Cross – 90999
• GlobalGiving – 80100

Verizon Wireless will waive standard messaging fees for texting FLORENCE to the American Red Cross or GlobalGiving short code and 100 percent of each donation will go to American Red Cross or GlobalGiving. Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills will see their donations on the next regular monthly bill. For prepaid customers, donations will be taken from customers’ prepaid balances.

Additionally, Verizon’s employee program, VtoV, is offering emergency financial assistance to employees who have been affected by this tragedy though its employee assistance program. Verizon has over 2,300 employees in the path of Hurricane Florence.

Verizon customers can text FLORENCE to: American Red Cross – 90999 and GlobalGiving – 80100 if they want to donate $10 to support relief efforts.

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Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with sales of 41 billion euros in 2017 and 149,000 employees worldwide at 30 June 2018, including 91,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 260 million customers worldwide at 30 June 2018, including 199 million mobile customers and 20 million fixed broadband customers. The Group is present in 28 countries. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In March 2015, the Group presented its new strategic plan “Essentials2020” which places customer experience at the heart of its strategy with the aim of allowing them to benefit fully from the digital universe and the power of its new generation networks.

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