Qwest Shows 'Spirit of Service' in Metro Denver by Becoming the Largest Contributor to Mile High United Way

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Qwest, its employees and retirees have shown their Spirit of Service to the community by pledging $1.3 million to Mile High United Way in 2007. Qwest’s commitment is the largest corporate gift to Mile High United Way for the current 2006-2007 fundraising campaign.

“We believe in the power of education to change lives and communities, and we have confidence in Mile High United Way’s ability to maximize our gift to make sure young children are ready to learn when they begin kindergarten and that all students can successfully graduate from high school.”

“Qwest has a long history of giving generously to the communities it serves across the Western United States, but this year’s gift to Mile High United Way is tremendous,” said Brian Gallagher, president and chief executive officer of United Way of America.

Qwest’s priority in the community is to improve the quality of education for children and teens from pre-kindergarten through 12^th grade. The company’s $1.3 million gift will also help support Mile High United Way’s School Readiness and Youth Success Initiatives.

“Investing in education is a core part of Qwest’s commitment to communities,” said Teresa Taylor, executive vice president and chief human resources officer for Qwest. “We believe in the power of education to change lives and communities, and we have confidence in Mile High United Way’s ability to maximize our gift to make sure young children are ready to learn when they begin kindergarten and that all students can successfully graduate from high school.”

In 2006, Mile High United Way launched an ambitious five-year campaign to raise $250 million to increase the number of local citizens helped. Mile High United Way focuses on three initiatives – School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self Sufficiency. Its goal over the next five years is to ensure that young children are ready to succeed when they enter school, at-risk youth graduate from high school, and individuals and families achieve financial stability and independence.

Qwest’s $1.3 million pledge is an increase of more than 40 percent over its gift to Mile High United Way last year. Nationally, Qwest’s giving to local United Way organizations increased from $3 million last year to $4 million this year.

In addition to its financial gift, Qwest employees and retirees volunteered more than one million hours of community service in 2006 with a primary focus on pre-K through 12^th grade education.

For success stories about Mile High United Way’s School Readiness and Youth Success initiatives visit:

http://www.milehighunitedway.org/site/PageServer?pagename= WHEN_SS_schoolReady, http://www.milehighunitedway.org/site/PageServer?pagename= WHEN_SS_youthSuccess, and http://www.milehighunitedway.org/site/PageServer?pagename= WHEN_SS_threeInitiatives.

(Due to their length, these URLs may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

About Mile High United Way of Denver

Mile High United Way maximizes the power of collective generosity. We focus on three related initiatives: School Readiness, Youth Success and Adult Self Sufficiency. Our mission is achieved when young children from low-income families are prepared to succeed when they begin school, at-risk youth graduate from high school and individuals and families achieve financial stability and independence. We can do more together. To learn more visit www.unitedwaydenver.org.

Mile High United Way coordinates more than 50,000 individual donors, 800 local businesses, 100 non-profit partners and numerous community resources to solve tough community issues and deliver long-term solutions to help improve lives and strengthen communities in metro Denver.

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.