"Verizon has a long tradition of running to a crisis to quickly assist communities in need," said Verizon Foundation President Rose Kirk. "It is our friends and neighbors who are affected by the devastation of Hurricane Irene, and providing this assistance is the least we can do."

Verizon Wireless customers can support relief efforts by making a $10 donation to one of nine organizations by sending a text message. Donating is easy; customers simply text a specific word to the organization's designated short code:  

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·                              American Red Cross Relief:  Text "REDCROSS" to 90999

·                              Salvation Army:  Text "STORM" to 80888

·                              Vermont Food Bank: Text "FOODNOW" to 52000

·                              World Vision: Text "IRENE" or "STORMUSA" to 777444

·                              United Way Greater Capital Region (Albany, NY): Text "IRENE" to 80888

·                              United Way of Hudson County (NJ): Text "UWHC" to 85944

·                              United Way of Bergen County (NJ): Text "CFUND" to 85944

·                              North Carolina Baptists Mission: Text "IRENE" to 85944

·                              Operation Compassion: Text "HURRICANE" to 85944

Verizon Wireless always waives text-messaging fees for disaster relief, so text messages are free when used to make donations to any of these organizations, and 100 percent of each $10 donation goes to the relief organization.  For Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills, the $10 donations will appear on their next bill.  For customers using the company's prepaid services, the donations will be deducted from customers' prepaid balances.

Verizon's grant to the Red Cross will help the organization's efforts to provide food, shelter, cleaning supplies and emotional support to people in communities from the Carolinas to Maine affected by the hurricane.

Michael J. Brown, vice president of corporate and foundation partnerships of the Red Cross, said: "Verizon's donation comes at a key point as we continue our work up and down the East Coast to help people affected by Irene.  The recovery and cleanup will take time, and every donation or help by volunteers is critical and greatly needed."