An Easy Way To Get Extra Credit For School Programs (NAPSA)—Every time you make a long-distance call, you may beable to go far toward helping the schoolof your choice. So far, over $2.5 million has been donated to schools nationwide. For example, in December 2001, a check for $10,000 was presented to Santana High School and its Link Crew program. Link Crew is a Denver-based mentoring program that helps smooth the sometimes traumatic transi- tion for freshman and other newcomers to high school. Salem Community High School in Indiana started a school district newspaper, profiling the achievements of elementary school students. Also, Salem Community Middle School has started a newspaper featuring gifted and talented students. Through the Verizon Extra Credit for Schools program, Verizon will donate five percent of an enrolled customer’s monthly longdistance usage charges for a designated school and present a quarterly check to that particular school. Contributions are made in Verizon’s name and customers need not invest any money. All they have to do is notify the phone company of which school they would like to benefit and then choose their long-distance plan. “These groups have been looking for funding, and Verizon’s Extra Credit for Schools program will support them,” said Stanley Bippus, Salem Community Schools Superintendent. In Union Center Elementary School in Valparaiso, Ind., pro- You can use your phoneto help your local schools. gram donations totaling $259 were used to support activities, especially those that recognize student achievements. “The money that Verizon sends us goes directly into an account, which goes directly to the students,” said Sharon Kenning, Administrative Assistant at Union Center Elementary. “We use the money for student activities, recognition, and field day ribbons for all students.” Using a donation of $65, Rail Ranch Elementary School in Murietta, Calif., started an “Artist in Residence” program to provide students with challenging art projects. “The staff will be providing all students with challenging art projects, and Verizon’s donations will pay for the art supplies,” said Jennifer Tan, principal of the Rail Ranch Elementary School. In 2008, over $1,000 was presented to Serrano High School in Phelan, California. “The proceeds are put into a donation account, which allows us to purchase school merchandise,” said Soule Sensenbach, the principal’s secretary. She also mentioned that without the funding from this program, they would not be able to purchase the proper resources for Serrano. Other schools used the donationsto: Produce a digital yearbook created by students * Create a scholarship fund for the student who showed the most dramatic improvement during the school year Provide financial support to the family of a young student suffering from a brain tumor Purchase lab equipment for middle-school students Enhance sports programs for boys andgirls Purchase awards for student and teacherrecognition. The money has also been used for reference materials, computer software and playground equipment. As long as schools use the money to enrich the learning experience of their students, they are free to spend the money however they wish. The program is now active in 47 states, with over 104,000 Verizon long-distance customers participating in the program. New and existing customers can call 1-877-X-CREDITto sign up for the program.
