Verizon Presents $10,000 Check to ACT Academy

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Vice Chancellor Charles Robinson (r) accepts a $10,000 check from Jonathan Blitz of Verizon (l) for the University of Arkansas College of Access Initiative's ACT Academy

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Verizon has made a $10,000 contribution to the Arkansas ACT Academy, a summer program sponsored by the University of Arkansas’ College Access Initiative that serves 240 underrepresented high school students from across the state.

Designed to improve students’ understanding of, comfort with and performance on the ACT exam, the ACT Academy operates an intensive five-day summer program on the university’s campus in Fayetteville.

Kristi Crum, region president for Verizon Wireless, said, “Verizon is pleased we can support the ACT Academy at the University of Arkansas. As a native of Arkansas, I fully recognize how important it is for higher education to be available to first-generation college students in our state. Higher education will greatly help these students prepare for their future and also help the state, as we will continue to have a need for a highly skilled workforce. My personal message to these students is to believe in themselves and to know that hard work will pay off as they continue their educational pursuits.”

The check presentation featured Charles Robinson, vice chancellor for diversity and community, as well as Jonathan Blitz, director of business operations at Verizon Wireless. Sherry Knuth, associate director of government sales, also attended on behalf of the company. A college fair followed the presentation, giving Verizon the opportunity to strengthen its relationship with the university and network with representatives from across campus.

“We are excited to have Verizon as a partner in the effort to improve the college readiness of these very deserving students,” said Robinson. “The University of Arkansas is committed to enhancing college access for Arkansas students, and we are very grateful to Verizon for their support.”

Housed in diversity affairs, the College Access Initiative is a diversity-oriented academic outreach program designed to improve college readiness, attendance and success among first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students and underserved communities. In addition to the ACT Academy, the College Access Initiative facilitates college admissions counseling and workshops designed to improve college readiness skills in collaboration with schools and organizations statewide.

Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live. Verizon’s employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.8 million hours of service to make a position difference in their communities.

For more information about Verizon’s philanthropic work, visit www.verizonfoundation.org; or, for regular updates, visit the Foundation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/verizonfoundation) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/verizongiving).