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August 13, 1996 CONTACT: National Urban League -- M. Gasby Greely, Toni Jones, Max Stamper Aug. 13 - 15: 504/522-5101; After Aug. 15: 212/310-9023 or NYNEX -- Maureen Flanagan, 212/395-0500 NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION NYNEX GRANT TO BUILD TECHNOLOGY CENTERS AND ADVANCE YOUTH PROGRAMS NEW ORLEANS, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 13, 1996--National Urban League President Hugh B. Price announced that NYNEX has contributed $1 million to build inner-city technology centers to educate and train urban school children in the use of computer technology. The NYNEX grant will also fund a national public service campaign to promote the League's youth development programs. Price accepted the contribution from NYNEX Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg following Seidenberg's keynote luncheon address at the annual League conference today. The technology centers will be located in two League affiliate communities in NYNEX's service region in New York and New England. The centers will provide job skills training and computer training for work and school, community networking capabilities for libraries and schools, and Internet access. The League plans to expand the program to all 114 affiliate communities in 34 states and the District of Columbia by the year 2000. "Partnerships with corporate leaders such as NYNEX greatly expand the League's ability to provide today's youth with the technological skills they'll need to succeed in tomorrow's business world," said Price. "However, technology without access is meaningless. Our endeavor with NYNEX will bridge the gap and make technology available to many more young people." A recent Urban League study found that children are most vulnerable to crime, drugs, and teenage pregnancy between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The new centers -- which will be open to the public Monday through Saturday -- will feature student activities during those critical late afternoon hours. "NYNEX is committed to providing equal access to all the innovations created by the communications revolution," said Seidenberg. "We are excited to be partnering with the Urban League -- a dynamic leader in the African-American community -- to create the technological lifeline necessary to prepare urban youth for the challenges of the 21st century." The League's public service campaign for television will be premiered during the New Orleans Conference and will air in its affiliate communities. The public service announcements -- which include TV, radio and newspaper ads -- highlight the Urban League movement, especially its drive to impact and motivate African-American youth. "The objective of the campaign is to mobilize middle class individuals, particularly middle class African Americans, into taking responsibility for the growth and development of disadvantaged minority youth," said Price. "We expect the ads to attract substantial support for the League's network of youth-oriented programs." NYNEX is a global communications and media corporation that provides a full range of services in the northeastern United States and high-growth markets around the world, including the United Kingdom, Thailand, Gibraltar, Greece, Indonesia, the Philippines, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The corporation is a leader in telecommunications, wireless communications, directory publishing and video entertainment and information services. Founded in 1910, the National Urban League is the premier social service and civil rights organization in America. The mission of the league is to help African Americans achieve social and economic parity. The league has affiliates in 114 cities, 34 states and the District of Columbia. return to news archive