Verizon New Jersey Named Recipient Of

For Immediate Release September 9, 2014

Contact : Liz Thomas/Lauren Schiavo [email protected] / [email protected] 856-642-6226

Verizon New Jersey Named Recipient of NJ SHARES “Neighborhood Hero” Award In Conjunction with National Communications Lifeline Awareness Week September 8-14, 2014

Ewing, NJ – This year, NJ SHARES is recognizing Communications Lifeline Awareness Week (September 8-14, 2014) by celebrating our partnership with Verizon New Jersey.

In celebration of its 15th anniversary year, NJ SHARES has selected a number of companies that have supported its mission since their inception and honored them with these “Neighborhood Hero” awards. NJ SHARES recently presented Verizon New Jersey with this award and Gina LaPlaca, Director of State Government Affairs for Verizon, accepted the honor on the company’s behalf.

“Verizon New Jersey is proud to support NJ SHARES programs and do our part to keep households connected to vital telephone and utility services,” said LaPlaca.

In 1999, Verizon, then operating as Bell Atlantic, generously donated its first corporate contribution outside of New Jersey’s energy companies to NJ SHARES. The partnership continued to grow in 2000 when a representative from Verizon was named to NJ SHARES Board of Trustees. In October of 2005, this partnership spurred the opening of the NJ SHARES Client Services Call Center. The Call Center works to educate and assist people on the application and enrollment process for Verizon New Jersey’s Communications Lifeline Program, which ensures that seniors, low income households and all those in need have access to a phone landline in their home.

“It has been nearly ten years since the opening of the Call Center and our partnership with Verizon New Jersey is stronger than ever,” said Jim Jacob, President and CEO of NJ SHARES. “We continue to help more than 135,000 households in need each year, and the Call Center has become a successful model for other Call Centers and Lifeline programs across the country.” The NJ SHARES Call Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and can be reached toll-free at 888-337-3339. For more information, visit: www.njshares.org/otherPrograms/communications-lifeline.asp. For more information about NJ SHARES, visit: www.njshares.org. For additional information on National Communications Lifeline Week, visit: http://www.naruc.org/lifeline/

PHOTO ATTACHED.

Caption: (from left) Gina LaPlaca, Director, State Government Affairs for Verizon NJ with Barbara Gomes, Director of Development for NJ SHARES.

About NJ SHARES: NJ SHARES began in 1998 and was able to serve 71 households. NJ SHARES has provided 177,600 households with $70.7 million in energy assistance. The NJ SHARES Client Services Call Center was established in 2005 and aids more than 150,000 households annually in enrollment services. In addition, NJ SHARES provides weatherization, conservation and efficiency information with our 300 plus partners around the state. In our efforts to reach households in our densely populated state, NJ SHARES has grown from working with 50 agencies to more than 300 agency partners. Visit www.njshares.org to learn how you can help your neighbor.