Bell Atlantic Funds NAACP Effort To Share African American History on Web Site
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Bell Atlantic Funds NAACP Effort To Share African American History on Web Site
22 de abril de 1997
| Media contacts: | Michel Daley michel.l.daley@bell-atl.com |
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Bell Atlantic today presented a $100,000 check to
the NAACP to fund the civil rights organization's plan to place
thousands of historically significant documents and photographs about
African American history on the NAACP Internet World Wide Web site.
Millions of Internet users will have access to what will be one of
the most comprehensive sources of information on African American
history. Within minutes, historians, students and others seeking data
will be able to obtain information--some of which dates as far back as
1909--that would currently take weeks or months to gather.
"The thread that has linked us [African Americans] to our history has
been active, innovative communication," said Edward D. Young, III,
vice president - External Affairs and associate general counsel for
Bell Atlantic. "It is fitting therefore that the NAACP is using the
Internet to continue what is a long-standing tradition. By digitizing
its most important documents and making them available on-line, the
NAACP is ensuring that my generation, my children's generation and all
generations that follow will have access to these important milestones
in the history of our people," Young said.
Bell Atlantic's contribution represents a new chapter in its alliance
with the NAACP. The company donated $50,000 to plan, design and
develop the NAACP web site last July, and in February Bell Atlantic
donated $15,000 to cover the cost of having the site maintained for
one year.
Kestrel Associates, Inc., a minority-owned firm, will scan and
digitize the documents for the NAACP. Once the documents are on
computer disks they will be placed on the NAACP's web page. Browsers
will then go to a site entitled "Historical Documents," and choose an
appropriate category for the information they desire.
"This new partnership effort will allow a worldwide audience to get a
close look at interesting African American and civil rights
documents," said NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume. "We applaud
Bell Atlantic for helping us move this project ahead."
Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company's telephone company subsidiaries are
the premier providers of local telecommunications and advanced
services. Globally, it is one of the largest investors in the
high-growth wireless communication marketplace. Bell Atlantic also
owns a substantial interest in Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and
is actively developing high-growth national and international business
opportunities in all phases of the industry.
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