SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 20, 2007--Qwest today announced an award of more than $5,000 to the Prairie Freedom Center for Independent Living. The award will be used to provide materials for the organization's living skills library and to fund various art, painting, photography and performing arts projects through the center's Mitchell Area Disability Peer Support.

"The Prairie Freedom Center's mission is crucial to individuals with disabilities in the community," said Larry Toll, Qwest state president for South Dakota. "This grant provides a unique opportunity for Qwest to make a difference in the lives of South Dakota residents who need our support."

"We are very thankful to receive the grant money to offer artistic projects to people with disabilities in our community," said Kathie Tupper, executive director of the Mitchell Area Disability Peer Support. "Thanks to Qwest, the living skills library will be filled with books, CD's and DVD's on living skills to help people with disabilities live independently."

The grant was made by The Family & Work Development Fund, which is a partnership among Qwest, the Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. This fund targets projects across the region that provide new or expanded initiatives in the areas of child, disabled adult, teen or elder care services.

Active Qwest employees were encouraged to nominate projects or programs of community organizations for potential funding. Merlin Smith, a Mitchell Qwest employee, nominated the Prairie Freedom Center.

About Qwest

Qwest offers a unique and powerful combination of voice and data solutions for businesses, government agencies and consumers - locally and throughout the country. Customers coast to coast are turning to Qwest's industry-leading national fiber optic network and its Spirit of Service for quality products and superior customer experience. For more information on Qwest, and its various operating subsidiaries, please go to www.qwest.com.

Copyright Business Wire 2007

Qwest Communications International

Qwest Communications International

Qwest offers a unique and powerful combination of managed voice and data solutions for businesses, government agencies and consumers - locally and throughout the country. Customers coast to coast are turning to Qwest's industry-leading national fiber optic network and its Spirit of Service for quality products and superior customer experience. Qwest is a participant in Networx, the largest communications services contract in the world, to provide leading-edge voice, data and video services. For more information on Qwest, and its various operating subsidiaries, please go to www.qwest.com. For information about the products and services Qwest is offering in the Networx contract, visit www.gsanetworx.com. The Qwest logo is a registered trademark of Qwest Communications International Inc. in the U.S. and certain other countries.

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