United for D.C. receives $10,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - United for D.C., the charitable arm of D.C. United, announced today it has received a $10,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to fund its United Reads program. Primarily, the funds will be used to enhance and expand the non-profit's existing United Reads program, which currently takes place in four D.C. schools - Payne Elementary (Ward 6), Smothers Elementary (Ward 7), Howard Road Academy (Ward 8) and Birney Elementary (Ward 8). United Reads, in partnership with Reach Out and Read DC, also opened its first United Reads Reading Corner in 2005, providing soccer furniture and soccer-related books to the Children's Health Center on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in Ward 8.

"Since 2002, United Reads has been active in various schools and has been impacting directly the most under-served youth in Washington, D.C.," said Catherine Marquette, Executive Director of United for D.C. and United's Director of Community Relations. "We are pleased that an organization such as the Verizon Foundation, which has such a tremendous reputation as a funder of worthwhile literacy initiatives, has recognized United for D.C. and its United Reads program as one of these initiatives worthy of assistance."

"We appreciate the opportunity to work with United for D.C. on this very important intiative," said Anthony Lewis, President, Verizon Washington, DC.

"Literacy, both language and computer, is one of Verizon's major funding priorities due to literacy's enormous impact on education and economic development," he said. "As America's Literacy Champion, Verizon recognizes that strong literacy skills serve as a foundational anchor of a successful life," said Lewis "A well-read person can become anything he or she sets as a goal to achieve, and we are encouraged that our grant will help focus more attention on a critical societal issue that impacts people of all backgrounds."

United for D.C. established the first United Reads School in 2002 at Payne Elementary School, the closest elementary school to the charity's and the team's home, RFK Stadium. The other schools have been added over the course of the last three years, with Birney Elementary being the most recent addition. Through the program, students at these schools have the opportunity to create their own personal libraries via the distribution of free children's books during the course of the school year. Additionally, United Reads helps promote the message 'reading is fun' through guest appearances by D.C. United players, coaches and staff as well as the team's mascot, Talon. Students also receive other materials during visits, such as bookmarks, bookplates, reading challenges, t-shirts and schools supplies.

For more information on United Reads or United for D.C., please contact Catherine Marquette at 202-587-5443 or at cmarquette@dcunited.com.

United for D.C.
The mission of United for D.C. is to serve the Washington, D.C. community through the creation or support of programs, events and organizations that advance the educational and social welfare opportunities (primarily health and recreational) for the area's youth, particularly those who may be economically, physically or mentally disadvantaged. Currently, United for D.C. operates three signature programs: United Reads, Kicks for Kids and United Community Grants.

United for D.C. is a 501(c)3 organization created from the desire of D.C. United of Major League Soccer to further the team's dedication to the Greater Washington, D.C. community. Founded in 2002, United for D.C. is committed to supporting programs and organizations falling within the organization's mission, thus giving back to the community that has supported the team so greatly since its inception in 1996.

Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. In 2004, the foundation awarded more than 26,000 grants totaling over $70 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on improving literacy, computer and technology skills, and identifying domestic violence solutions. The foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the economically and socially disadvantaged.

The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer 528,000 hours in their communities and provided $37.6 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.