Verizon’s COVID-19 relief efforts centered on students and healthcare workers

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. Today, Verizon announced support for relief efforts across communities impacted by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by tripling monthly data allowance for its Verizon Innovative Learning schools and committing $10 million to nonprofits directed at supporting students and first responder healthcare workers.

“Verizon stands ready to support our community members during this challenging time,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon Chairman and CEO. “We will continue to work closely with partners to help provide resources and care for those who need it most.”

As the list of nationwide K-12 schools shifting to remote learning heightens, Verizon is supporting the students and teachers in its Verizon Innovative Learning program, the company’s education initiative targeting Title 1 middle schools, by tripling their data allowances. Effective March 16, the additional connectivity includes all tablets and laptops within the program and upgrades data plans from 10GB/month to 30GB/month through June 30.

Launched in 2014, Verizon Innovative Learning addresses barriers to digital inclusion by providing free 1:1 devices, free internet access and a technology-driven curriculum to some of the country’s most under-resourced students. The data increase will impact up to 116,000 students and teachers within Verizon Innovative Learning schools and help provide increased access to remote instruction as coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect school operations.

Knowing many students depend on school resources for more than learning, Verizon has committed $5 million in support of No Kid Hungry Responds: Coronavirus. The donation will support Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign and its overall work to help feed school children from low-income families and their immediate activation to aid vulnerable children as millions of students are affected by school closings.

Verizon is also providing support to first responders through a combined $5 million contribution to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) COVID-19 Response Fund and Direct Relief, both centered on supporting healthcare workers on the front lines.

The CDP COVID-19 Response Fund focuses on local nonprofit and social organizations working in areas identified as having high numbers of affected individuals and provides support to healthcare workers and vulnerable populations, including those in quarantine. Verizon’s grant will help support preparedness, containment, response and recovery activities for those affected by COVID-19 and for the first responders.

Verizon’s donation to Direct Relief will help provide personal protective equipment and other critical-care equipment to healthcare workers responding to coronavirus (COVID-19). In the U.S., Direct Relief is delivering protective masks – along with exam gloves and isolation gowns – to health care organizations in areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases.

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