FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2005
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications (304) 696-7153
 

Verizon announces $100,000 gift to MU’s new alumni center

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Verizon West Virginia announced today a $100,000 gift to Marshall University to help fund a new Erickson Alumni Center.

“This is another great partnership with Marshall for Verizon,” said John Ruddick, executive director of public affairs at Verizon. “It complements our education partnership and will enable more persons and businesses in the state to support the university.”

Verizon is providing $40,000 of the pledged amount now, and the rest will be presented at various times in the near future.

Early this year, Verizon provided $250,000 to help fund Marshall’s June Harless Center for Rural Education and Research Development in support of distanced learning in six counties. Verizon has been represented on the Society of Yeager Scholars board of directors since the society’s inception.

Lance West, Marshall’s vice president for alumni development, said MU will honor Verizon for its latest gift by naming the telemarketing calling area in the new building the Verizon Calling Center.

“We are ecstatic to have Verizon as one of the primary investors in this new Erickson Alumni Center,” West said. “Verizon has had a history of supporting many areas of Marshall University and this tie-in to alumni demonstrates yet another expression of supporting the overall mission of the institution.”

The Erickson Alumni Center fund-raising campaign is ongoing. More than $3 million of the $4 million needed to build the center has been pledged or donated.

For more information on Verizon’s latest gift to Marshall, persons may call Ruddick at (304) 344-7234 or West at (304) 696-5407.

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