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The Lucent Technologies Foundation Continues Support of Community-based Diversity Programs; Awards Seven New Lucent Links Grants

The Lucent Technologies Foundation Continues Support of Community-based Diversity Programs; Awards Seven New Lucent Links Grants

Published 05-01-00

Submitted by Lucent Technologies, Inc.

Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU) today announced seven new grants under its Lucent Links Program, which focuses on bringing young people together to explore and embrace diversity. The grants range from $20,000 to $50,000.

Since the program was launched in 1999, Lucent Links has supported 52 organizations globally that create opportunities for young people of various backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints to engage in learning and service activities that are aimed at fostering a better understanding and awareness of cultural differences. Many of the programs use technology such as the Internet and videoconferencing to bring together young people located miles apart.

"This program gives young people - who otherwise would have little or no chance to interact - the opportunity to work together on projects that benefit their communities," explained David Ford, president of the Lucent Technologies Foundation. "We hope the relationships that result will help increase cultural awareness and acceptance."

The programs unite young people from urban, suburban, and rural areas around the United States and overseas engage in community service activities, explore subjects such as cultural awareness, race relations and gender issues, as well as to receive to receive training in leadership skills, self-empowerment, and conflict resolution. Youth representatives from each of the Lucent Links programs will gather to discuss their experiences and identify models for best practices during a summit slated for October 2000 in Newark, N.J.

Lucent Links projects are designed to accomplish one or more of the following goals:

young people's understanding of themselves and others and address issues of diversity;

ung people to develop leadership skills and the cultural competencies necessary to live and work in a multicultural community;

Use technology to engage young people around issues of inclusion and diversity;

Create opportunities for young people to share learning and to explore issues of inter-group relations, and other related issues.
The Lucent Foundation expects to fund programs annually under the Lucent Links Program. The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) administers the program and joins with the Lucent Foundation in convening a panel of reviewers to assess proposals.

Selection is based on the following criteria: clarity of purpose, the correlation between planned activities and stated goals, the level of outreach to a broad range of youth, the capacity of the organization to implement the planned project, the likelihood of sustaining the program's activities, and the extent to which evaluation and follow-up are planned, as well as adherence to Lucent Links' goals.

Groups interested in submitting programs for grant consideration should contact NCCJ at 212- 545-1300 or send e-mail to ewilliam@nccj.org.

Lucent Technologies Foundation
The Lucent Technologies Foundation is the charitable arm of Lucent Technologies. In Lucent's 2000 fiscal year, the foundation will contribute about US$50 million around the world toward youth development projects, including education reform, innovative work at the college and university level to support improvement of pre-college education, and scholarship programs that enhance opportunities in science and engineering for under-represented minorities. In addition, the foundation supports a diverse set of community improvement projects in communities around the world where Lucent people work and live. The Global Days of Caring, an annual Lucent volunteer event is also managed by the foundation with about 15,000 employees and retirees contributing their time to causes around the world.

Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers the systems, software, silicon and services for next-generation communications networks for service providers and enterprises. Backed by the research and development of Bell Labs, Lucent focuses on high-growth areas such as optical and wireless networks; Internet infrastructure; communications software; communications semiconductors and optoelectronics; Web-based enterprise solutions that link private and public networks; and professional network design and consulting services. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at http://www.lucent.com.

Lucent Technologies, Inc.

Lucent Technologies, Inc.

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