MCI Launches Philanthropic Campaign Targeting Nonprofits

Published 07-26-05

Submitted by MCI

ASHBURN, Va. - MCI (NASDAQ: MCIP) today announced a series of grants to benefit non-profit organizations. MCI's immediate focus will be on the state of California, where the company has committed a minimum of $5 million this year to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for disadvantaged youth, small and minority-owned businesses, and other key members of traditionally underserved communities.

A highlight of the program is the establishment of the MCI California Scholarship Program, through which MCI will provide the financial means for 10 students per year to attend college for a full four years. Scholarship America, the nation's leading scholarship management organization, will administer the program. The 10 California public high school students will receive up to $60,000 toward tuition, textbooks and living expenses to attend a California state university or community college. To qualify, students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average in high school and maintain that average while in college.

"Access to quality education is vital to the success of future generations," said Michael Capellas, MCI's president and chief executive officer. "While MCI has long supported initiatives that are a catalyst in channeling technology into areas where it is most needed, we expect these educational grants to be change agents in helping students achieve their dreams."

MCI so far has awarded grants worth more than $2 million to a dozen California nonprofit organizations, some of which include:

A $50,000 grant to the The East Los Angeles Community Union, a community development organization, to provide financial assistance through the TELACU Education Foundation for qualified Latino students seeking college degrees;

A $500,000 grant to the Community Technology Foundation of California. This multi-faceted grant advances advocacy, policy and programs for underserved California communities. One program, the CTFC Digital Storytelling Institute sponsored by MCI, brings together underserved youth, their families and key community stakeholders by utilizing digital media technologies with the goal of enhancing educational opportunities and fostering cross-generational, cross-cultural, and culturally authentic work;

A $120,000 grant to Aim High, a San Francisco based nonprofit that provides innovative and highly supportive educational programs - most notably an exemplary summer school - for underserved urban middle school students in San Francisco and Oakland;

A $100,000 grant to the Mission Language and Vocational School, of San Francisco, to expand its Digital Empowerment Program, which offers long-term technology job training through its network certification course;

$106,000 in support to the National Black Business Council, Inc. Youth Entrepreneur Program to provide training, financial literacy, business and life skills to youth by making community technology centers available to students between the ages of 11 and 15. Instructors will incorporate the MCI Foundation's MarcoPolo program into their curriculum;

A donation of in-kind services to several public schools in the Central Valley. This support will train district school teachers and provide them with education materials through the MCI Foundation's MarcoPolo program.

MCI's giving focuses on its core philanthropic mission of using innovative technology, strategies and employee time and talent to improve the education of our youth, especially in underserved communities. Augmenting this core effort, MCI is also funding education initiatives that target minority-owned businesses and other key members of underserved communities who are critical to achieving the capacity-building goals of these communities.

In addition to direct grants to nonprofits, MCI will continue its support of the MCI Foundation and its nationwide support for its MarcoPolo program. MarcoPolo is a nonprofit consortium of premier national and international education organizations and the MCI Foundation dedicated to providing the highest quality Internet content and professional development to teachers and students throughout the United States. MarcoPolo Content Partners include: the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Council on Economic Education, National Endowment for the Humanities, The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, International Reading Association, The National Council of Teachers of English, American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Geographic Society. Visit http://www.marcopolo-education.org/ for more information.

About MCI, Inc.
MCI, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCIP) is a leading global communications provider, delivering innovative, cost-effective, advanced communications connectivity to businesses, governments and consumers. With one of the most expansive global IP backbones and wholly-owned data networks, MCI develops the converged communications products and services that are the foundation for commerce and communications in today's market. For more information, go to www.mci.com.

MCI Launches Philanthropic Campaign Targeting Nonprofits

MCI Launches Philanthropic Campaign Targeting Nonprofits

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