Verizon answers the call in Oakland County

The holidays came early for nine Oakland County nonprofits Thursday, as Verizon Wireless announced nearly $120,000 in grants.

“This truly was a Christmas present wrapped up in a big bow,” said Judy Lindstrom, president of the Oakland Literacy Council, based in Bloomfield Hills.

Verizon Wireless gave the organization $40,000 to assist with its technology resource center, to promote and supplement the literacy skills of adult students.

“Verizon has just been wonderful to us, and for us,” Lindstrom said, noting Oakland Literacy Council is the only literacy nonprofit in the county.

She said the need is there, citing a 34-percent illiteracy rate in the city of Pontiac alone.

“People look at Oakland County and say illiteracy doesn’t happen in Oakland County,” she said. “Illiteracy doesn’t stop at Eight Mile, it continues.”

Michelle Gilbert, public relations manager for Verizon’s Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky region, announced the grants at a JARC group home on Minglewood in Farmington Hills.

JARC, provider of community-based Jewish residential services for adults with developmental disabilities, has 20 group homes in Oakland County.

“This is the first ‘green’ home in the nation for people with developmental disabilities,” said Rick Loewenstein, of JARC. “First and foremost, we built it around the people who live in this home … then, we made it ‘green.’”

He was pleased to host Thursday’s press conference in the home.

“When was the last time you attended a press conference at a house?” he said.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who has called many a press conference in his time as an elected official, was on hand to thank Verizon for its charitable contributions that will help maintain the high quality of life in Oakland County.

Patterson said he knows how generous and important the county’s corporate citizens are in championing causes and supporting nonprofits. He started two programs in recent years that couldn’t be funded with taxpayer dollars — the Brooksie Way half-marathon fundraiser and the pedometer program for third- and fourth-grade students.

He heard a lecturer say that the current generation is the first, in the history of the nation, to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

“I wanted to do something in my own little way,” he said, noting that he started to raise money for the pedometer program. “The corporate community, they stepped up.”

He said he’s impressed that Verizon Wireless continues to give so much.

“They’ve shown a tremendous commitment as a corporate citizen, especially in a tough economy,” Patterson said.

Gilbert said giving back is a part of the company’s credo.

“It’s so special to have the opportunity to make a difference in our community,” she said. “We are here today to do our part in giving back to the community.”

Verizon Wireless has been a supporter of HAVEN, a nonprofit that assists women who are victims of domestic violence, for many years, noted Beth Morrison, executive director of HAVEN. She said an employee of Verizon was murdered in a domestic situation about 15 years ago and the company began supporting HAVEN at that time.

Morrison said it takes the entire community to end domestic violence.

“It’s not up to an organization like HAVEN, or a few individuals, or law enforcement … it really takes an entire community and that includes corporate support,” she said.

Morrison noted that some of the other grants announced Thursday will help HAVEN as well, because the organizations support one another.

“These dollars don’t just go to one organization, they filter through to many of us,” she said.

Gilbert said Verizon Wireless gave $200,000 in grants in southeast Michigan and about $500,000 statewide this year.

“Verizon Wireless will continue its commitment in the wonderful state of Michigan for many, many years to come,” she said.

sjenkins@hometownlife.com (313) 222-2369

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