How Can I Help?

Frequently Asked Questions
about GTE Reads and "Check Into Literacy!"

Why has GTE chosen to support literacy?

GTE sees compelling reasons for an all-out, national campaign to promote literacy in the United States. In a fast-changing world, improved reading and communications skills reinforce the foundation of American business and strengthen the economic health and educational opportunity of our entire nation.

In that context, it simply is good business for a company like GTE - a business that depends on a skilled and literate workforce to meet ever increasing technical demands - to do everything it can to promote literacy. GTE�s literacy programs are good for the company�s workforce, good for its communities, and good for its customers.

What kind of literacy work has GTE done in the past?

For nearly a decade, GTE�s championing of literacy has exceeded the traditional bounds of corporate philanthropy. In order to boost awareness and funding for literacy organizations across the country, GTE has marshaled a compelling line-up of resources. In addition to its own marketing and philanthropic arms, GTE�s line-up includes corporate partners, several noted celebrities, the leading literacy organizations in the country, and 90,000 GTE employees nationwide.

Working under the banner of GTE Reads, these combined resources have been mobilized to promote improved literacy skills across all sectors of the United States, supporting a diverse range of adult, child, and family literacy programs. Within these programs, GTE has a special interest in improving technological and computer literacy and strengthening the skills of America�s workforce.

What is the Customer Literacy Donation Program?

In a unique initiative, GTE has established a means of reaching out to its 16 million telephone customers nationwide to enlist their support for literacy programs. Under this new Customer Literacy Donation Program, dubbed �Check Into Literacy,� telephone customers will have the opportunity to donate $1 each month to literacy projects via a check-box on their monthly payment remittance slips. This new program could potentially raise millions of dollars that will be distributed to national and local literacy organizations. GTE will be one of the first national companies to support a charitable cause through its billing system.

How does the bill check-off program work?

A check-off box marked �Yes! I want to be a Literacy Champion" will begin appearing on some GTE phone bills around November 1. If the customer checks it, on subsequent phone bills, �Literacy donation: $1� will be itemized and added into the total monthly bill. This system establishes GTE as perhaps the first national telecommunications company to support a charitable cause through its billing system. Customers wishing to donate more than $1 each month can do so by calling a toll-free number that will be printed on the bill. The same phone number can be used to withdraw from the program.