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MLS D.C. United

United for D.C. receives $10,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation

November 17, 2005 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


Washington, D.C. (November 17, 2005) - United for D.C., the charitable arm of D.C. United, announced today it has received a $10,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to fund its United Reads program. Primarily, the funds will be used to enhance and expand the non-profit's existing United Reads program, which currently takes place in four D.C. schools - Payne Elementary (Ward 6), Smothers Elementary (Ward 7), Howard Road Academy (Ward 8) and Birney Elementary (Ward 8). United Reads, in partnership with Reach Out and Read DC, also opened its first United Reads Reading Corner in 2005, providing soccer furniture and soccer-related books to the Children's Health Center on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in Ward 8.

"Since 2002, United Reads has been active in various schools and has been impacting directly the most under-served youth in Washington, D.C.," said Catherine Marquette, Executive Director of United for D.C. and United's Director of Community Relations. "We are pleased that an organization such as the Verizon Foundation, which has such a tremendous reputation as a funder of worthwhile literacy initiatives, has recognized United for D.C. and its United Reads program as one of these initiatives worthy of assistance."

"We appreciate the opportunity to work with United for D.C. on this very important intiative," said Anthony Lewis, President, Verizon Washington, DC.

"Literacy, both language and computer, is one of Verizon's major funding priorities due to literacy's enormous impact on education and economic development," he said. "As America's Literacy Champion, Verizon recognizes that strong literacy skills serve as a foundational anchor of a successful life," said Lewis "A well-read person can become anything he or she sets as a goal to achieve, and we are encouraged that our grant will help focus more attention on a critical societal issue that impacts people of all backgrounds."

United for D.C. established the first United Reads School in 2002 at Payne Elementary School, the closest elementary school to the charity's and the team's home, RFK Stadium. The other schools have been added over the course of the last three years, with Birney Elementary being the most recent addition. Through the program, students at these schools have the opportunity to create their own personal libraries via the distribution of free children's books during the course of the school year. Additionally, United Reads helps promote the message ‘reading is fun' through guest appearances by D.C. United players, coaches and staff as well as the team's mascot, Talon. Students also receive other materials during visits, such as bookmarks, bookplates, reading challenges, t-shirts and schools supplies.

For more information on United Reads or United for D.C., please contact Catherine Marquette at 202-587-5443 or at cmarquette@dcunited.com .

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