ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 2007--The Qwest Foundation today announced a $5,000 grant to Junior Achievement of New Mexico (JA of New Mexico) to fund the expansion of its JA Hispanic Initiative in Las Cruces and Albuquerque.

The initiative provides Hispanic students positive role models to deliver JA's "economics of life" programs in grades K-12. The program recognizes the unique challenges faced by Hispanic youth and seeks to provide education, early intervention and a united community effort to help them succeed.

"Qwest is proud to partner with Junior Achievement of New Mexico," said Loretta Armenta, Qwest president for New Mexico. "Understanding how the global economy works is so important today, and this initiative helps makes ensure that children throughout New Mexico are prepared for the future."

"This generous grant from the Qwest Foundation will help JA of New Mexico impact and enrich the lives of hundreds of Hispanic students," said Kevin R. Hattery, president of JA of New Mexico. "With the Qwest Foundation's help, we can show these students the value of staying in school, give them practical tools to succeed in life, and provide them with strong volunteer role models who share their expertise and cultural heritage. At the same time, we're teaching students invaluable lessons about entrepreneurship, workforce readiness and financial literacy."

One of the grant's key objectives is to recruit Hispanic community leaders and train them to deliver JA's business and workforce readiness curricula -- thereby encouraging students to stay in school and learn how to succeed in business themselves. Volunteers are a key ingredient of the program, sharing their personal experience with students and serving as role models to whom Hispanic students can relate.

About Qwest Foundation

The Qwest Foundation's core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on pre-K through grade 12 education.

About Junior Achievement of New Mexico

Junior Achievement of New Mexico, Inc. is the state's largest organization dedicated to teaching young people about the "economics of life." Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA provides in-school and after-school programs for students in grades K-12. JA offers educational programs that focus on seven key content areas: business, citizenship, economics, entrepreneurship, ethics/character, financial literacy, and career development. Annually more than 15,000 students in New Mexico are served by multiple operations across the state. For more information, visit newmexico.ja.org.

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.

More from Qwest Communications International