Transcription
2014 CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT
PRESIDENT'S LETTERRose Stuckey KirkPresident — Verizon Foundation &VP — Global Corporate CitizenshipGlobal Corporate Citizenship:The Heart of VerizonIn 2014, six 12-year-old girlsfrom Resaca Middle Schoolin Los Fresnos, Texas, wonBest in Nation in the VerizonInnovative App Challenge.The girls invented an appcalled “Hello Navi” to help avisually impaired classmatebetter navigate the halls oftheir school. Their successtook them all the way to theWhite House Science Fair inWashington, DC, hosted byPresident Barack Obama.“Not only do these young ladies havebig brains,” said the President, “butthey also have big hearts.”The President was so right.I’m constantly inspired by the peoplewe help through our programs such asthese amazing young ladies.Through my work with the VerizonFoundation, I have had an incredibleopportunity to work with a group ofpassionate and committed individuals.Together, we’re dedicated to puttingVerizon’s assets to good use byproviding experiences that have thepower to transform people’s lives.Experiences like that of our winningteam from Resaca Middle School.NOT ONLY DOTHESE YOUNG LADIESHAVE BIG BRAINS, BUTTHEY ALSO HAVE BIGHEARTS.— president barack obamaRESACA MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS WHODEVELOPED AN APP TO HELP THEIRVISUALLY CHALLENGED CLASSMATENAVIGATE THEIR SCHOOL — AND MADEIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE SCIENCE FAIR.You can clearly see the impact ofthat work within the Verizon familyand among our customers and thecommunities we serve.CREATING SOCIAL IMPACTIn education, our employeeshelp apply our technologyto make dreams of a bettertomorrow come true for somany individuals, particularlythose in disadvantagedcommunities. And, we’re doingsimilar work in healthcareand energy.Our employees play a significant roleas volunteers, rolling up their sleevesin the communities in which they liveand work to benefit Verizon’s socialcauses and the local causes that theycare deeply about.We’re unwavering in our dedicationto build a better, greener world,and are continually working toreduce our carbon footprint and usesustainable business practices.Plus, every day, we provide ourcustomers with a suite of solutionsto help them minimize their ownenvironmental impact.2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT1
PRESIDENT’S LETTERAnd we constantly measure theresults of all programs to continuouslyimprove our solutions, and scale themost promising initiatives to make thegreatest impact.HERE ARE SOME OF THERESULTS OF WHICH WE’REESPECIALLY PROUDOur education programs arerevolutionizing classroomsacross the country:Teachers receiving technologytraining through our VerizonInnovative Learning Schools (VILS)note spending less time lecturing andmore time teaching students at theindividual level.Our teachers report that theirstudents are more engaged in theirsubjects and have greater interest inmath and science careers.For the second year, VILS studentsimproved in academic achievementand showed more than a 4 percentincrease in standardized mathtests at the schools that have beensurveyed.We’re equally proud of ourachievements in sustainability.green energy, including solar andfuel cell power, to run our networksand data centers — equivalentto 2,700 homes’ electricity for ayear — eliminating 20,000 metrictons of CO2.Also, we introduced our customers toways they could use wireless devicesand broadband communications tomanage their fleets and buildings,run power grids and telecommute.The impact in 2014 was theequivalent of taking 3 million carsoff the road.These examples show how we aremaking measurable, positive impactsin our communities and in many otherareas. In the pages that follow, you’lllearn even more about the workVerizon is doing. We can’t afford torest on our accomplishments, andby the time this report goes to print,we will already be at work striving toachieve even greater results in 2015.We’re doing this in ways that areexciting, inspiring, and which createinestimable value, not only for theworld we live in — but for the world aswe would want it to be.Over the past two years, wehave invested 137 million inAS PART OF OUR GREENENERGY INVESTMENT,WE’VE INSTALLED OVER22MW OF SOLAR ANDFUEL CELL ENERGY.2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT2
CONTENTSPRESIDENT’S LETTER 1CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITYFRAMEWORK 55 Our Approach6 FrameworkIMPACT IN EDUCATION 7Lifting Student Achievementby Closing the Digital Divide8913161719The Social IssueOur SolutionOur ProgressOur International EffortsPerformance DashboardWhat’s NextIMPACT IN HEALTHCARE 20Connecting Patients in Needto Quality Care212226272829The Social IssueOur SolutionOur ProgressOur International EffortsPerformance DashboardWhat’s NextIMPACT INENERGY MANAGEMENT 30Using Our Networks to RemotelyManage Energy Use3131323334THE PECAN STREET INC. PROJECTThe Social IssueOur SolutionOur ProgressWhat’s Next2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT3
CONTENTS3535363838E-SUSTAINABILITYThe Social IssueOur SolutionOur ProgressWhat’s NextSUSTAINABILITY 39Reducing Our EnvironmentalFootprint40404651Our ApproachReducing Our Carbon IntensityManaging Waste Engaging Our Employees andCommunities53 Performance Dashboard54 What’s NextCOMMUNITY SERVICE 55Using Our Skills and Passionsto Give Back565657585858Our ApproachPassion for STEMPro Bono ProgramTeaming Up for the EnvironmentMatching Employees’ GenerosityOur ProgressTHE EMPLOYEEEXPERIENCE 61Enabling Our Employees toSucceed in Work and Life626265687173747777SOLAR-POWEREDTRASH COMPACTOR ATTHE VERIZON CAMPUSIN BASKING RIDGE, N.J.Our Credo and ValuesGrowing with VerizonPay and BenefitsMilitaryDiversity and InclusionEmployee and Company ProfilePeople and CultureLabor UnionsSafetyGOVERNANCE ANDLEADERSHIP 79Running Our Business With theHighest of Ethical Standards80818283838384Ethics and ComplianceEnsuring AccountabilityCode of Conduct and TrainingHuman RightsPRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY 86Putting Accessibility and Safetyat the Forefront8789909191Accessible ProductsOnline SafetyDistracted DrivingBringing LTE to Rural AmericaRadio Frequency EmissionsStakeholder EngagementPolitical ContributionsPrivacySUPPLY CHAIN 92Ensuring That Our Products AreSourced Responsibly939394949595Supplier Code of ConductSupplier Review ProcessConflict MineralsSupplier DiversityOur ProgressWhat’s Next2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT4
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY FRAMEWORKVERIZON TECHNOLOGY ISFUELING ENTREPRENEURSHIPIN COURSES COMBINING APPDEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS.OUR APPROACHAt Verizon, social responsibilityequals sound business.We have long believed that itis essential to minimize theenvironmental impacts of ouroperations. We’re proud tooffer products that help ourcustomers reduce their carbonfootprint. Most recently, we’vebeen using our technologyto address social issues thatcan help people lead a betterlife: particularly in education,healthcare and energymanagement.From time to time, we check withour customers to make sure we’retackling the issues that are mostimportant to them. In 2014 we didthis by engaging Business for SocialResponsibility (BSR) to conduct amateriality assessment. BSR surveyedcustomers across our business indirect interviews and online surveys.We’ve committed ourselvesto responsible businesspractices that improve ourefficiency and reduce risk toour business.The results reaffirmed that ourcustomers care about what wecare about.We’ve committed ourselves toresponsible business practices thatimprove our efficiency and reducerisk to our business. We apply ourinnovative technology to socialchallenges, delivering solutions thatimprove people’s lives while creatingnew markets for our business.And in all our work, we set goals,track our progress and report onour performance.2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT5
OUR CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY FRAMEWORKBENEFITTO SOCIETYSolutions thatimprove people’slives.SOCIALIMPACTMODELBENEFIT TOBUSINESSLeverageinnovativetechnology toaddress societalchallenges.Creates license tooperate and freedomto enter new markets.TARGETED STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT ACROSS ALL FOCUS AREASHUMAN RIGHTSSUPPLY TYAddress human rightsrisks associated with ICTproducts and services.Address supplychain risks that couldnegatively impactVerizon.Leverage stakeholderexpectations withrespect to environmentalcitizenship.Leverage stakeholderexpectations withrespect to productresponsibility.2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT6
IMPACT INEDUCATIONLifting student achievement byclosing the digital divide.OUR MISSION: We’re using kids’ love of smartphonesand tablets to spark a passion for learning.WWW.VERIZON.COM / ABOUT / RESPONSIBILITY / EDUCATION2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT7
EDUCATIONSOCIAL CHALLENGEMANY STUDENTS ARE NOTPREPARED FOR COLLEGE-LEVELMATH AND SCIENCE.n MATH n SCIENCE14%6%AFRICAN-AMERICAN25%15%AMERICAN INDIANBY PUTTING TECHNOLOGY IN KIDS’HANDS, LIKE AT CHUTE MIDDLE SCHOOLIN EVANSTON, ILL., WE’RE HELPING TOCLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.30%15%HISPANIC54%WHITETHE SOCIAL ISSUE37%71%46%ASIAN19%36%PACIFIC ISLANDERPercent of ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACTCollege Readiness Benchmarks by Race/Ethnicity, 2011LOW PERCENTAGE OF FEMALESOBTAINING COMPUTERSCIENCE DEGREES18%82%Source: “Global Corporate Citizenship 2015 Approach"9 MILLIONSTEM JOBS ARE EXPECTEDTO GROW BY 1 MILLION BY2022, TO A TOTAL OF MORETHAN 9 MILLION JOBSSTEM jobs beckon, but toomany youths shy away.As one of the world’s leadingtechnology companies, we atVerizon are acutely aware thattechnology influences everyaspect of our lives and itsimportance is growing daily.Over the next 10 years, the mostrobust job growth will be in fieldsrequiring science, technology,engineering and math (STEM) skills.But we’re preparing too few youngpeople to play a meaningful role inan increasingly tech-based economy.Few high school seniors are ready forcollege-level math and science.For women and minorities, the gapis even wider.Women, who make up almost half ofthe overall workforce, hold only 24percent of the jobs in tech or STEMfields. African-Americanscomprised 11 percent of the totalworkforce in 2011, but only 6 percentof the STEM workforce. The Hispanicshare of the workforce was 15percent, but just 7 percent of theSTEM workforce.By current estimates, STEMoccupations will create 2.6 million jobvacancies by 2020.Unless we make some changes, we’llbe hobbling the job prospects oflarge numbers of our citizens — andpotentially putting a damper on U.S.innovation itself.2.6 MILLIONThe number of STEMjobs predicted to gounfilled by 2020Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT8
EDUCATIONon how to effectively integratemobile technology into all aspects ofthe learning process. We partneredwith the International Society forTechnology Education (ISTE) todevelop and deliver the training andput specific metrics in place to findout if teachers gained proficiencyand confidence in how they useddevices in the classroom — and mostimportantly, if students became moreengaged in the learning process.BRIAN ZHANG (RIGHT) AND JEREMY HENRYPREPARE FOR THE VERIZON INNOVATIVE APPCHALLENGE IN THEIR ENTREPRENEURSHIPCLASS AT NOVA MIDDLE SCHOOL IN DAVIE, FLA.We started with 12 schools in the2012-13 school year and added12 more in the 2013-14 schoolyear. Our results have beenconsistently positive.OUR SOLUTIONIn our most recent research,conducted in 2014, nearly everyteacher surveyed (98.6 percent)reported positive outcomes in eitherstudent engagement or learning.Seizing on kids’ love of tech tobuild interest in STEM.At Verizon, we saw thatmobile technology had thepotential to play a crucial rolein revolutionizing classroomsand sparking interest in STEMsubjects. After all, this istechnology that kids love —technology that’s unique in itsability to put the world intoindividual students’ hands, nomatter where they live.So we decided to bring connectivityand digital devices to young people,especially those who otherwise wouldbe left on the distant side of thedigital divide, and to show teachersthe best ways to use the technologyfor learning.Beginning in 2012, we startedworking in underserved schoolsacross the nation: rural, urban,suburban. Concentrating on scienceand math classes, we recognizedthat if we could train teachers onhow to use smartphones, tablets andtechnology in the classroom, we couldchange the way that they teach andthe way students learn. We went toschools that had technology in placeand helped teachers understand howto best leverage the technology toincrease effectiveness, engagementand comprehension.VILS TEACHERSSURVEYED REPORTEDPOSITIVE OUTCOMES37%of students improvedoverall in academics35%of students showedmore engagementwith their subjects60%of students showedmore proficiencywith technologyVILS34%of students were morelikely to extend learningbeyond the classroomThis is how our Verizon InnovativeLearning Schools (VILS) programwas born. The program providestwo years of comprehensive andongoing professional developmentAnd on standardized achievementtests in math, scores improved anaverage of 6.97 percent of thoseschools surveyed.2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT9
EDUCATIONIn those first 24 VILS schools, we hadfocused on math and science courses.For our next step, we wanted togo bigger.We decided to take VILS school-wideto see how learning might improveif every student had access totechnology for every subject. Andbecause we knew that many studentslacked access to the Internet at home,we decided to make sure the playingfield was level for everyone.another nonprofit expert, DigitalPromise, we provided brand-newtablets for every student, over 5,000in all. We also set up two-year dataplans to equip each student andteacher with 24/7 Internet access.ConnectEdThe expansion was part of a majorcommitment we made on Feb. 3,2014, to support ConnectEd, a WhiteHouse initiative that aims to close thedigital learning divide — by bringingnext-generation broadband andhigh-speed wireless to 99 percentof American schools by 2017. Wepledged up to 100 million towardthe effort.In the fall of 2014, we added eightnew VILS middle schools in fourstates. This time, with the help ofWe now have 32 VILS schools inunderserved areas for 15,838students from coast to coast.AT VERIZONINNOVATIVE LEARNINGSCHOOL IN VISTA,CALIF., KARLA CRUZAND EVERY STUDENTAT VISTA RECEIVESA TABLET AND 24/7INTERNET ACCESS.We pledged up to 100 MILLIONin cash toward connecting99% of schools by 2017Mobile Learning AcademyOur professional development forteachers has proved so valuablethat we wanted to offer the sameopportunities to teachers everywhere.So we scaled our professionaldevelopment program, using the reachthat only the Internet can offer. In ourVerizon Mobile Learning Academy,teachers are receiving a free,moderated, 10-week online learningprogram. While earning continuingeducation credits from Johns HopkinsUniversity, they’re acquiring skillsusing mobile technology to makelearning come alive for each student.When we announced the program,there was clear demand for this typeof training. We launched the academyin September and soon trained 98teachers and administrators whoreach 5,262 students at 15 schools.Our goal is to train educators in 100schools by December 2015.App ChallengeWe also wanted to arm studentswith the real-life skills they’llneed to succeed in the modernworkplace. Skills like critical thinking,collaboration, negotiation andproblem solving.2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT10
EDUCATIONWe realized that we could accomplishthis and teach STEM skills at thesame time by encouraging kids todive beneath the surfaces of thesmartphones and tablets they love sowell and to actually design apps forthem. Through hands-on experience,the kids would see they can do muchmore than simply use the technology— they can create with it.And so we started the VerizonInnovative App Challenge, a contestin which we invite students in middleand high schools to develop originalconcepts for mobile apps.In forming their concepts, studentsmust consider an app’s usefulnessand marketability. Their app mustsolve a concrete problem in theirschool or community, be easy to useand meet marketplace needs.As they do all of this, students learnfrom experience that STEM subjectsaren’t just academic exercises, butpractical tools for improving life intoday’s world.The top ideas win Best in State andBest in Region awards. Ultimately,we name eight teams Best in Nation.These eight winners are awardedup to 20,000 in cash grants fortheir schools to support STEMprogramming and a Samsung tabletfor each team member.Better yet, they get to turntheir ideas into reality: Mastertrainers from the MassachusettsInstitute of Technology MediaLab give personalized, onsite andvirtual training on coding and appdevelopment, using MIT App Inventorto develop the teams’ apps.The winning teams have developedCHAMPION APP-BUILDERS(FROM LEFT) CASSANDA BAQUERO,CAITLIN GONZALEZ, JANESSA LEIJA AND(FOREGROUND) THEIR INSPIRATION,ANDRES SALAS, WITH THE PRESIDENT.App Challenge winners go from Texas toWhite House for science fair salute.One Best in Nation winner of the Verizon Innovative AppChallenge, the team from Resaca Middle School in Los Fresnos,Texas, participated in the 2014 White House Science Fair. Thesix-girl squad invented a mobile app called “Hello Navi” to help avisually impaired fellow student navigate their school.NOT ONLY DO THESE YOUNG LADIESHAVE BIG BRAINS, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE— president barack obamaBIG HEARTS.apps such as “Snap Docs,” whichconverts hard copy text to editabledocuments; “Super Science Girl,”which encourages girls to pursueSTEM careers (by offering, forexample, fun experiments toperform); “HikeAbout,” a hiker’s aidthat provides trail maps, identifiesWe awarded eightBest in Nation prizes,each team winning up to 20,0002014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT11
EDUCATIONAPP CHALLENGESPARKS EXCITEMENT91%OF THE KIDS ON WINNINGTEAMS SAID THEY WERENOW MORE LIKELY TOPURSUE A STEM CAREER61%REPORTED STRONGERINTEREST IN COMPUTERSCIENCEOUR COLLABORATORSTo get coding into schoolsand community centers,and to encourage studentinterest in STEM, wepartnered with thefollowing organizations: etwork for TeachingNEntrepreneurshipProject Lead the Way Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericaGirls Who Code American Association ofUniversity Women VERIZON IS SUPPORTING THESEPROGRAMS WITH FUNDING AND/ORDONATIONS OF TABLETS AND2-YEAR 5GB/MONTH DATAPLANS FOR STUDENTS’ USEplants and animals and issues alertsin an emergency.“Tactillum” lets students run virtualchemistry experiments. “Exact 3DExtract” creates 3D images ofsmall objects.One app, “Hello Navi,” which was builtto help a visually impaired studentnavigate his middle school, went tothe 2014 White House Science Fair.In the last two years, our winningstudent teams placed 16 apps onGoogle Play and the App Store. Theapps have been downloaded at least22,900 times.The students’ excitementis measurable:nn 91 percent of the kids on winningteams said they were now more likelyto pursue a STEM career.nn 61 percent reported strongerinterest in computer science.We decided to extend the rewardsof app development to reach moreunderserved and under-representedstudents. We enlisted the help ofsuch organizations as the Networkfor Teaching Entrepreneurship,Project Lead the Way, Boys & GirlsClubs of America, Girls Who Codeand the American Association ofUniversity Women.COMPUTERSCIENCE ISEVERYTHING: ACELL PHONE, A DOORWITH A SCANNER,AN ELEVATOR .SINCE IT APPLIESTO EVERYTHING ONEARTH, WE ARE KINDOF CHANGING THEWORLD.— barbara groh,girls who code, miamiThose programs yielded the samegreat results. At the completionof the Girls Who Code summersessions we sponsored in Miami, forinstance, 88 percent of the teenssaid they were considering a career intechnology. And 91 percent said theywere likely to study computer sciencein college.2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT12
EDUCATIONMobile Learning AcademyGOAL } Transition Thinkfinity intoa mobile learning technology andprofessional development platform,and create a virtual teachertraining course.PROGRESS } We closed the ThinkfinityAT BUFFALO’S HEALTHSCIENCES CHARTERSCHOOL, STUDENTS LIKESHAI FEARS ARE USINGTABLETS FOR RESEARCHIN ALL OF THEIR CLASSES.OUR PROGRESSTest scores, student engagement,interest in STEM: all rising.Our social impact programsare metrics-driven. Ineverything we do, we take ahighly rigorous approach tomeasuring social impact.We apply a logic-based model thatsystematically captures data againstshort-term, mid-term and long-termgoals. The results provide insightson how to replicate and scale ourprograms up for greater impact, ormake adjustments and tweaks. Wealso tap into third-party partnersto help us measure those resultsaccurately and objectively.Our 2014 goals were focused onexpanding our mobile tech-basedprograms to further drive studentengagement and achievement in STEM.Here’s what we said we’d do in 2014,and what we did:App ChallengeGOAL } Select and train another24 regional and national winningteams in the next App Challenge.Launch afterschool app developmentprograms for underserved students.PROGRESS } We provided the eightnational and 16 regional VerizonInnovative App Challenge teamswith in-person and/or virtual trainingto develop their winning conceptsinto apps.We launched an app developmentcourse in underserved schoolsthrough a partnership with Networkfor Teaching Entrepreneurship andin after-school locations through apartnership with the Boys & GirlsClubs of America.Community and removed allThinkfinity Content Partner resourcesfrom the platform. After 10 years andmore than 50 million invested in theplatform, Thinkfinity was sunsetted.We created a mobile learningprofessional development program:the Verizon Mobile Learning Academy.The Academy, launched in September2014, is a virtual and moderatedcourse that provides training toteachers and administrators oneffectively implementing mobilelearning in schools. Teachers receivecontinuing education units from JohnsHopkins University upon completingthe 10-week academy.VILSGOAL } Expand VILS to anadditional eight underservedschools; publish updated reportson the impact of VILS on studentachievement in STEM.PROGRESS } We implemented theVILS program in eight underservedschools:nn Chute Middle School (Evanston, Ill.)nn M.L. King Jr. Lab Experimental School(Evanston, Ill.)nn Carroll Middle School (Raleigh, N.C.)nn PreEminent Charter School(Raleigh, N.C.)2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT13
EDUCATIONnn Vista Innovation & Design Academy(Vista, Calif.)nn Rancho Minerva Middle School(Vista, Calif.)nnFDR Middle School (Bristol, Pa.)nn Armstrong Middle School(Fairless Hills, Pa.)Every student and teacher in eachof the schools was provided with atablet and a two-year data plan.WITHSLOW-MOTIONVIDEO, KIDSSAW PHYSICSPRINCIPLES INACTION.We published new reports thatdemonstrate the positive impact ofthe VILS program.UTeachGOAL } Expand the UTeachprofessional development program,which helps prospective mathand science teachers learn howto integrate mobile technologiesinto the lessons they give to K-12students, to an additional fouruniversities.PROGRESS } We launched theUTeach program in four additionaluniversities for a total of eight:Previous:With tablets in student hands, Californiaschool is on upswing.The assignment in Marissa Born’sseventh grade mechanical engineeringclass was to make a “Rube Goldberg”machine, a comical sequence ofwedges, weights and levers that wouldmake a thumbtack pop a balloon.The kids tried and tried. No luck.Then the kids thought of using theiriPads to record the action in slowmotion — and soon saw how to addthe needed force.nnUT Austin (Austin, Texas)Pop!nnUMass Lowell (Lowell, Mass.)At the Vista Innovation & DesignAcademy (VIDA) near San Diego, all680 students and 38 faculty membersreceived iPads and 24/7 data planslast fall as part of the VerizonInnovative Learning Schools program.nn University of Colorado (Boulder, Colo.)nnUniversity of Kansas (Lawrence, Kan.)New:nnUC Berkeley (Berkeley, Calif.)nn Cleveland State University(Cleveland, Ohio)nn University of Tennessee(Knoxville, Tenn.)nnTemple University (Philadelphia, Pa.)The UTeach mobile curriculum will beavailable to more than 40 universitiesin the fall of 2015.“The excitement and novelty of havingan iPad has led to learning,” saidProvost Cindy Anderson.VIDA is a new magnet school,started in August to replace aschool plagued by poor attendance,discipline and academics.Two-thirds of VIDA’s students —most from families in poverty —had attended the former school.This school year, suspensions havedropped by 92 percent and disciplinereferrals by 79 percent. School-wide,attendance has improved 8 percent.Quarterly grades are up. And internalassessments are showing markedimprovements in math and reading,according to administrators.“The connectivity — that’s the gamechanger,” said Principal Eric Chagala.Many students lacked Internet accessat home before Verizon stepped in.Now “new learning opportunities”extend beyond school hours.The tablets have “really gone frombeing a toy to a tool,” said Born.“Now the kids can look things upfor themselves, and I think that’sreally powerful,” the teacher said,“because it’s gone beyond askingthe teacher for all the answers. It’sstudent-driven technology.”2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT14
EDUCATIONSmashing Stereotypes, Inspiring Minds.We know that if we are to be serious about getting moregirls into STEM, we have to change societal attitudes aboutgirls in math and science.That’s why we partnered with the group MAKERS andproduced a digital campaign called #InspireHerMind.The campaign was highlighted by a video showing a younggirl being discouraged by her parents from pursuing her loveof science. Ultimately, the spot asked viewers to encourageour daughters to aspire to be not only “pretty,” but “prettybrilliant,” too.THERE’STHAT STIGMATHAT IF YOUTAKE COMPUTERSCIENCE ORENGINEERING,YOU’RE GOING TOBE DORKY, YOU’REGOING TO BEWEIRD.— jennifer greenberg, 17,girls who code, miami2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT15
EDUCATIONVERIZON SCIENCE PLUS PROGRAMSTANDARDIZED TEST SCORES(INDIAN CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARYEDUCATION) CLASS AVERAGE:70%80%20132014 STUDENTS ACHIEVED THEHIGHEST STEM SCORES EVERIN THE SCHOOLTHE INSTITUTE OFINTERNATIONAL EDUCATION200STUDENTS20STEM TEACHERSVERIZON MENTORS:25 WOMENMENTORING120 STUDENTSWEEKLYSIX OUT OF 10 SCHOOLSARE USING TECHNOLOGY FOR THEFIRST TIME30SCIENCE AND MATHTEACHERS AND SCHOOLPRINCIPALS RECEIVEDTRAINING IN EDUCATIONALTECHNOLOGYIN ADDITION TO THE 200SELECTED STUDENTS,EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGYBENEFITED THE WHOLE CLASS OF600 STUDENTSOUR INTERNATIONAL EFFORTSIn India, a high-tech boost forscience education.Our technological solutionsare improving educationaloutcomes even for the mostvulnerable and disadvantagedchildren of India — where,despite rapid development,42 percent of the populationlives on less than 1.25 a day.Verizon has teamed with ShantiBhavan, a boarding school for childrenof India’s lowest caste who enter atage 4 and stay through high school.They’re the first in their families toreceive a formal education.Verizon provided science and mathclasses with new laptops, whiteboard technology, online remotementoring, faster Internet broadbandconnectivity and additional solarpanels to power the entire system.Now students can use the Internetto access educational resources,research science projects andengage with mentors.And one day in April, 19 productdevelopment employees from ourBangalore office spent a day atthe school as volunteers, visitingscience, math and English classesand painting classrooms.The result: a 10-point increasein one year on standardized testscores, jumping to an average of80 percent from 70 percent — thehighest in the school’s history.Also in India, we teamed up withthe Institute of InternationalEducation to foster STEM interestand knowledge among Indian girls.Trained facilitators and Verizonprofessionals worked with 200students from 10 girls’ high schoolsin Hyderabad and Chennai oversummer and winter vacations.Six of the schools began usingtechnology for the first time, abenefit for some 600 students.MeetMeena GopiShe’s the first girl in the18-year history of ShantiBhavan to earn a perfect scoreon India’s national computerscience exam.Two boys from Shanti Bhavanalso garnered perfect scores— the first time three studentsfrom the school accomplishedthe feat.Born into a lower caste,16-year-old Meena is the firstof her family to reach highschool. Both her parents leftschool in the eighth grade. Hermother stays at home while herfather drives an auto-rickshawfor low wages.With a push from Verizon,Meena is gaining the meansfor a better future.2014 VERIZON CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY SUPPLEMENT16
2014 PERFORMANCE DASHBOARDEDUCATIONVERIZON INNOVATIVE LEARNING SCHOOLSGROWTH INPARTICIPATION:n VILS SCHOOLS24Participated across three cohorts during the school year that began in 2014:15,8383267%PARTICIPATING STUDENTS32PERCENTAGE OFVILS STUDENTS INFREE OR REDUCEDPRICE LUNCHPROGRAMS556SCHOOLSPARTICIPATING TEACHERS12Cohorts 1 and 2 Outcomes20122013Cohort 1 included the schools that started in 2012. Cohort 2 included the schoolsthat started in 2013. Both programs are in partnership with the InternationalSociety for Technology in Education.2014In 2014, we expanded by anadditional 8 schools through ourpartnership with Digital INGSTUDENTSPARTICIPATINGSCHOOLSteacher practices changed*60%OF TEACHERS SAIDTHEY GAVE MOREINDIVIDUALIZEDINSTRUCTION47%SAID THEY SPENTLESS TIME LECTURINGTO THE ENTIRE CLASSstudent behaviors changed*98.6%OF TEACHERSREPORTED POSITIVEOUTCOMES ON EITHERSTUDENT ENGAGEMENTOR LEARNING35%SHOWED MOREENGAGEMENTWITH THEIRSUBJECTS39%60%SHOWED MOREPROFICIENCY WITHTE
healthcare and energy management. From time to time, we check with our customers to make sure we're tackling the issues that are most important to them. In 2014 we did this by engaging Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) to conduct a materiality assessment. BSR surveyed customers across our business in direct interviews and online surveys.
