WARWICK, R.I., April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Tim Warren, a Warwick chiropractor who is climbing Mount Everest for charity, will pause in his ascent Tuesday (April 3) to teach a social studies lesson to elementary school students in his home town and in other schools across the country. The students will be able to see and interact with Dr. Warren through a special TV hookup, using Verizon's FiOS Internet service.

Warren will appear on camera to conduct the 15-minute lesson, which is specifically designed for students at the Park Elementary School in Warwick, and answer the students' questions. In addition, an estimated 400 students from 12 schools in the United States will join the class by logging on to a Web site.

"This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience not only for Dr. Tim but for all of the students who participate in the lesson," said Lillian McGee, Verizon regional director-public affairs. "They are so excited about being able to hear from and communicate with Tim from half a world away at one of the highest points on earth."

With the backing of Verizon and Telecom Pioneers of America, Warren set out last year to climb Mount Everest to raise money for A Wish Come True, an organization that grants wishes to children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. One of the highlights of Warren's excursion is Tuesday's classroom lesson.

"This Verizon/Pioneer groupwide project will integrate technology and information for school children throughout the Verizon Pioneer footprint," said Deb Foley, president of the Denver (Pa.) Chapter of the Verizon Telecomm Pioneers and one of the organizers of the Mount Everest Klimb For Kids event.

Warren will kick off the video webcast by explaining the technology being used, including the Verizon FiOS Internet connection that enables the broadband transmission. Warren will then talk about his climb, his base camp activities, and his plans for the next day and the duration of the climb. He will then answer questions from students.

Warren will also encourage students to learn more about his excursion by visiting his Web site (http://www.drtimwarren.com/), where he will be providing updates on his trip and answering student e-mails. Teachers in participating classrooms around the country will augment his lesson by using Verizon's Thinkfinity Web site, an online educational resource.

Thinkfinity.org is a free, comprehensive digital learning program. It includes authoritative, standards-based, K-12 educational resources, best-in- class literacy programs and rich professional development opportunities for educators. In partnership with leading educational and literacy organizations, Verizon Thinkfinity offers more than 55,000 resources for teachers and students, including lesson plans, interactive content and access to Web sites.

Warren, who has been making mountain climbs for many years, left Warwick for Mount Everest on March 15 and is due to return June 1.

Verizon, which is introducing its revolutionary new FiOS TV service in Rhode Island later this spring, provided a $15,000 grant to A Wish Come True to support Warren's climb. The Verizon Telecom Pioneers, a volunteer group of Verizon employees and retires, donated $4,000 to purchase the satellite broadcast equipment Warren is using for the event. The Pioneers also are coordinating efforts at their local schools.

In addition to the Park School in Warwick, other participating schools include: Cranston High School West, Cranston, R.I.; Visitation School, Philadelphia; St. Ignatious Loyola School, Hicksville, N.Y.; Ritchie Elementary School, Wheeling, W.Va.; Western School of Technology and Environmental Science, Baltimore; Clark School, Clark, N.J.; Stewartsville Elementary School, Goodview, Va.; Bedford Middle School, Bedford, Va.; Taft Elementary School, Uxbridge, Mass.; Union Hill School, Worcester, Mass.; Ellis School, Fremont, N.H.; and the Cocalico Middle School, Denver, Pa.

Verizon Communications Inc. , headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 59 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 242,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com/.

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CONTACT: Phil Santoro of Verizon, +1-617-743-4760, or
philip.g.santoro@verizon.com

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