NEW YORK -- Eva Longoria, Andy Garcia, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Paulina Rubio and Many Others Sign Books to Benefit Hispanic Literacy Charities ,In support of Verizon Communications and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Hispanics literacy efforts, Latino celebrities signed children's books at this year's Alma Awards in Los Angeles on May 7th to raise money for local literacy programs. Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives) served as host and producer of this year's NCLR Alma Awards, which will air as an all-new 90-minute, prime-time special on Monday, June 5 (9:30-11:00 p.m., ET/PT), from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Calif., on the ABC Television Network.

Basic literacy is among Verizon's major priorities due to its enormous impact on education, health, economic development and the digital divide. Since 2004, the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, has provided more than $24 million to programs and organizations that support the Hispanic community.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Latinos represent almost 20% of the U.S. population under the age of 18 -- the largest minority segment of the nation's student population. Currently, Hispanic achievement rates in all levels of education remain low. Only 14 percent of Latino fourth graders and nine percent of eight graders can read at or above basic or advanced skill levels.

"Teaming up with the NCLR Alma Awards goes beyond entertainment," said Patrick Gaston, president of the Verizon Foundation. "It's an opportunity to support Latinos making a difference in Hollywood and leverage the celebrity status of some of today's most talented Latino stars to raise awareness of Hispanic literacy rates."

"Through the collaboration and generous support from the Verizon Foundation, many Hispanic children will have the necessary tools to improve their literacy rates," said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguia. "We applaud Verizon for being a literacy champion in the Hispanic community."

Verizon has been a long-time supporter of the Hispanic community and most recently joined the National Council of La Raza and Scholastic, Inc. to launch Lee y Seras(R) (Read and You Will Be), www.leeyseras.net, a national Latino early literacy initiative that engages parents and communities in the literacy development of their children.

As a proud sponsor of the NCLR Alma Awards, which recognizes Latinos making a positive difference in the entertainment industry, Verizon is raising literacy awareness on the national stage so that communities can champion this issue to help shape a stronger, more empowered Hispanic community.

For more information about Verizon in Spanish, visit www.verizon.com/noticias or visit www.verizon.com/espanol. For assistance in Spanish, customers can call 800-743-2483 (West); 800-430-2222 (New England); 800-479-0305 (Pennsylvania and Delaware); 800-560-4652 (New Jersey); 212/718-890-2005 (New York); and (local area code) + 954-6250 (Maryland and West Virginia).

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 53 million customers nationwide; one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks; and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving mass market and wholesale customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/espanol.

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