{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"151305","rtpr_id":"nGNX6WRbg1-20260923","ticker":"VZ","exchange":"NYSE","all_tickers":["VZ"],"title":"Verizon donates $1 million to Liberty Science Center to champion public access to AI skilling technology","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-23T19:45:00.103Z","article_body":"JERSEY CITY, N.J., Sept. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon today announced\na $1 million grant to the Liberty Science Center (LSC) in Jersey City, NJ in\nconjunction with the launch of Verizon AI Skills for America, a new workforce\ndevelopment initiative equipping workers, small businesses, and educators\nnationwide with practical AI skills. Unveiled at LSC, the grant will support\ntech-driven education initiatives and establish interactive programming that\nintroduces visitors to the innovative AI skilling technology that is at the\nheart of this new national initiative.\n\nTo bring this national vision into local communities, Verizon is collaborating\nwith premier educational hubs like LSC, an organization known for sparking\nlifelong learning and scientific curiosity. This grant will help LSC provide\nvisitors with exposure to Verizon’s new AI training resource to help\ncommunities confidently embrace new technology and shape their own futures.\n\n“From Thomas Edison’s laboratories to the breakthroughs at Bell Labs, New\nJersey has a proud history of innovations that changed the world,” said\nGovernor Sherrill. “Liberty Science Center keeps that spirit of discovery\nalive, and this investment from Verizon will give students and workers\npractical skills they can turn into opportunities. By preparing more New\nJerseyans for good-paying jobs, we will keep our state at the forefront of\ninnovation.”\n\n“As a company with a strong footprint in New Jersey, Verizon is deeply\ncommitted to supporting the communities we call home, and our longstanding\npartnership with Liberty Science Center is a cornerstone of that\ncommitment,” said Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer of Verizon.\n“Verizon and LSC have a shared vision of empowering the learners and leaders\nof tomorrow, and we’re excited to work together to create programming that\nevokes curiosity for new technologies for educators, families and students\nfrom across the state.”\n\nThis donation represents the latest chapter in the partnership between Verizon\nand LSC. Verizon is a proud Founding Corporate Sponsor of SciTech Scity, the\n30-acre innovation campus currently under development by LSC, aimed at\nbringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, and students to pioneer new\ntechnologies.\n\n“Verizon has been a steadfast partner in our mission to inspire the next\ngeneration of scientists and engineers,” said Paul Hoffman, President and\nCEO of Liberty Science Center. “From their early support as a founding\nsponsor of SciTech Scity to this generous new grant, Verizon understands that\nbuilding prepared communities and empowering individuals starts by working at\nthe local level. We look forward to creating a program that allows our guests\nto experience the power of this technology firsthand in an accessible,\nhands-on environment.”\n\nTo learn more about Verizon’s national workforce efforts, visit\nverizon.com/aiskillsforamerica\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WhMfqGN_v_tCcPzRK_n5-zmpfp_4Epy1u7kik1wfAkqHswSQ1wW_sNDPxod12Xns7GUIGcRWqO5UZTb1VVlt7MUU7_oI4HtIsciNjEYelHK3NQNpfsOxTB7blP3mbvWM).\nTo plan a visit to the Liberty Science Center, visit lsc.org\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=5Daj8Mq2Fd5m5_V4kcPNeq3ZwFFIwoObK4YBoLaOsi5rljt0CrdmBXfJxYS7R0s6).\n\nThis announcement was originally published by Verizon. Read the original press\nrelease.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=o4H-_lpTuxc1j5VmLAzx8EaxmtIsX9ljqVpWM1kj46QGVKA8C-RUGVWyrCLc3U7BVqMbN0kpwukEuMnwq5X4LB7EuVNmyEULueMtLhkHbY986pTGQs7G8Jw9z5J7hBU9_Qr5eRO4XcWZam6tgXwbWZ0nqFzjtu7p763g290aT3GSY59LNmaVXG-J3MEv2nkW)\n\nAbout Verizon \nVerizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its\nmillions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for\nmobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New\nYork City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500,\nVerizon generated revenues of $138.2 billion in 2025. Verizon’s world-class\nteam never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip\nthem for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WhMfqGN_v_tCcPzRK_n5--cljW1oFNb6DxeU3oliwi_GeK0a9jPXGKCyzB6fBraE7UQBihKn4kVwP2uIE0MO_w==)\nor find a retail location at verizon.com/stores\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WhMfqGN_v_tCcPzRK_n5-zpvSCq2uJ8upXllnHN68QCU0OzsJiNReByBYZXe1ZUaPl1iGAl8ev9n76kJzAxrDJb6zG-J4SDLP4EB8S6PmyQ=).\n\nAbout Liberty Science Center \nLiberty Science Center (LSC.org) is a 300,000-square-foot, not-for-profit\nlearning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the\nHudson near the Statue of Liberty. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation\nof scientists and engineers and bringing the power, promise, and pure fun of\nscience and technology to learners of all ages, Liberty Science Center houses\nthe largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, 12 museum exhibition halls,\na live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live\nsimulcast surgeries, a tornado-force wind simulator, K-12 classrooms and labs,\nand teacher-development programs. More than 280,000 students visit the Science\nCenter each year, and tens of thousands more participate in the Center’s\noff- site and online programs. Welcoming more than 800,000 visitors annually,\nLSC is the largest cultural institution in New Jersey and the largest\ninteractive science center in the NYC-NJ metropolitan area.\n\nMedia Contact:\nAlyssa Forsell \nalyssa.forsell@verizon.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a0c6c7a-3980-4c97-a719-a463817cf3f6)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX6WRbg1-20260923","title":"Verizon donates $1 million to Liberty Science Center to champion public access to AI skilling technology","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"VZ","created":"2026-09-23T19:45:00.103Z","tickers":["VZ"],"exchange":"NYSE","article_body":"JERSEY CITY, N.J., Sept. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon today announced\na $1 million grant to the Liberty Science Center (LSC) in Jersey City, NJ in\nconjunction with the launch of Verizon AI Skills for America, a new workforce\ndevelopment initiative equipping workers, small businesses, and educators\nnationwide with practical AI skills. Unveiled at LSC, the grant will support\ntech-driven education initiatives and establish interactive programming that\nintroduces visitors to the innovative AI skilling technology that is at the\nheart of this new national initiative.\n\nTo bring this national vision into local communities, Verizon is collaborating\nwith premier educational hubs like LSC, an organization known for sparking\nlifelong learning and scientific curiosity. This grant will help LSC provide\nvisitors with exposure to Verizon’s new AI training resource to help\ncommunities confidently embrace new technology and shape their own futures.\n\n“From Thomas Edison’s laboratories to the breakthroughs at Bell Labs, New\nJersey has a proud history of innovations that changed the world,” said\nGovernor Sherrill. “Liberty Science Center keeps that spirit of discovery\nalive, and this investment from Verizon will give students and workers\npractical skills they can turn into opportunities. By preparing more New\nJerseyans for good-paying jobs, we will keep our state at the forefront of\ninnovation.”\n\n“As a company with a strong footprint in New Jersey, Verizon is deeply\ncommitted to supporting the communities we call home, and our longstanding\npartnership with Liberty Science Center is a cornerstone of that\ncommitment,” said Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer of Verizon.\n“Verizon and LSC have a shared vision of empowering the learners and leaders\nof tomorrow, and we’re excited to work together to create programming that\nevokes curiosity for new technologies for educators, families and students\nfrom across the state.”\n\nThis donation represents the latest chapter in the partnership between Verizon\nand LSC. Verizon is a proud Founding Corporate Sponsor of SciTech Scity, the\n30-acre innovation campus currently under development by LSC, aimed at\nbringing together scientists, entrepreneurs, and students to pioneer new\ntechnologies.\n\n“Verizon has been a steadfast partner in our mission to inspire the next\ngeneration of scientists and engineers,” said Paul Hoffman, President and\nCEO of Liberty Science Center. “From their early support as a founding\nsponsor of SciTech Scity to this generous new grant, Verizon understands that\nbuilding prepared communities and empowering individuals starts by working at\nthe local level. We look forward to creating a program that allows our guests\nto experience the power of this technology firsthand in an accessible,\nhands-on environment.”\n\nTo learn more about Verizon’s national workforce efforts, visit\nverizon.com/aiskillsforamerica\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WhMfqGN_v_tCcPzRK_n5-zmpfp_4Epy1u7kik1wfAkqHswSQ1wW_sNDPxod12Xns7GUIGcRWqO5UZTb1VVlt7MUU7_oI4HtIsciNjEYelHK3NQNpfsOxTB7blP3mbvWM).\nTo plan a visit to the Liberty Science Center, visit lsc.org\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=5Daj8Mq2Fd5m5_V4kcPNeq3ZwFFIwoObK4YBoLaOsi5rljt0CrdmBXfJxYS7R0s6).\n\nThis announcement was originally published by Verizon. Read the original press\nrelease.\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=o4H-_lpTuxc1j5VmLAzx8EaxmtIsX9ljqVpWM1kj46QGVKA8C-RUGVWyrCLc3U7BVqMbN0kpwukEuMnwq5X4LB7EuVNmyEULueMtLhkHbY986pTGQs7G8Jw9z5J7hBU9_Qr5eRO4XcWZam6tgXwbWZ0nqFzjtu7p763g290aT3GSY59LNmaVXG-J3MEv2nkW)\n\nAbout Verizon \nVerizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its\nmillions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for\nmobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Headquartered in New\nYork City, serving countries worldwide and nearly all of the Fortune 500,\nVerizon generated revenues of $138.2 billion in 2025. Verizon’s world-class\nteam never stops innovating to meet customers where they are today and equip\nthem for the needs of tomorrow. For more, visit verizon.com\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WhMfqGN_v_tCcPzRK_n5--cljW1oFNb6DxeU3oliwi_GeK0a9jPXGKCyzB6fBraE7UQBihKn4kVwP2uIE0MO_w==)\nor find a retail location at verizon.com/stores\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=WhMfqGN_v_tCcPzRK_n5-zpvSCq2uJ8upXllnHN68QCU0OzsJiNReByBYZXe1ZUaPl1iGAl8ev9n76kJzAxrDJb6zG-J4SDLP4EB8S6PmyQ=).\n\nAbout Liberty Science Center \nLiberty Science Center (LSC.org) is a 300,000-square-foot, not-for-profit\nlearning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the\nHudson near the Statue of Liberty. Dedicated to inspiring the next generation\nof scientists and engineers and bringing the power, promise, and pure fun of\nscience and technology to learners of all ages, Liberty Science Center houses\nthe largest planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, 12 museum exhibition halls,\na live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live\nsimulcast surgeries, a tornado-force wind simulator, K-12 classrooms and labs,\nand teacher-development programs. More than 280,000 students visit the Science\nCenter each year, and tens of thousands more participate in the Center’s\noff- site and online programs. Welcoming more than 800,000 visitors annually,\nLSC is the largest cultural institution in New Jersey and the largest\ninteractive science center in the NYC-NJ metropolitan area.\n\nMedia Contact:\nAlyssa Forsell \nalyssa.forsell@verizon.com\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a0c6c7a-3980-4c97-a719-a463817cf3f6)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-23T19:45:00.149100221Z","server_sent_at_ms":1790192700149},"received_at":"2026-09-23T19:45:00.240Z","source_url":null},"analysis":{"id":"140107","press_release_id":"151305","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Telecom Services","sector":"Communication Services"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"other","narrative":"Verizon announced a $1 million grant to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City alongside the launch of Verizon AI Skills for America, a national AI workforce-development initiative.\n\nThe grant funds tech-driven education programming introducing visitors to Verizon's AI training resources; Verizon is also a Founding Corporate Sponsor of LSC's 30-acre SciTech Scity innovation campus.\n\nThis is a corporate-social-responsibility announcement with no material earnings, operational, or strategic impact on Verizon.","sentiment":"neutral","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"CSR/philanthropy release tied to AI skilling brand-building -- no material impact."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"donation_usd":1000000,"verizon_2025_revenue":"$138.2 billion"}},"quotedText":"Verizon is deeply committed to supporting the communities we call home, and our longstanding partnership with Liberty Science Center is a cornerstone of that commitment","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Governor Sherrill","role":"Governor of New Jersey"},{"name":"Donna Epps","role":"Chief Responsible Business Officer of Verizon"},{"name":"Paul Hoffman","role":"President and CEO, Liberty Science Center"}],"products":["Verizon AI Skills for America","SciTech Scity"],"companies":[{"name":"Verizon Communications Inc.","ticker":"VZ","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Liberty Science Center","relationship":"grant recipient / partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$1 million","context":"grant to Liberty Science Center"},{"amount":"$138.2 billion","context":"Verizon 2025 revenues"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":1,"reasoning":"Philanthropic $1M grant and launch of a workforce-development initiative; no financial or operational materiality to Verizon's earnings or strategy."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"VZ"},"globalImportance":8,"audienceRelevance":20,"eventTypeSecondary":["partnership"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"mega-cap","eventGravity":"philanthropy-csr","householdBrandBoost":true}},"event_type":"other","event_type_secondary":["partnership"],"sentiment":"neutral","material_impact_score":1,"narrative":"Verizon announced a $1 million grant to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City alongside the launch of Verizon AI Skills for America, a national AI workforce-development initiative.\n\nThe grant funds tech-driven education programming introducing visitors to Verizon's AI training resources; Verizon is also a Founding Corporate Sponsor of LSC's 30-acre SciTech Scity innovation campus.\n\nThis is a corporate-social-responsibility announcement with no material earnings, operational, or strategic impact on Verizon.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"donation_usd":1000000,"verizon_2025_revenue":"$138.2 billion"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Governor Sherrill","role":"Governor of New Jersey"},{"name":"Donna Epps","role":"Chief Responsible Business Officer of Verizon"},{"name":"Paul Hoffman","role":"President and CEO, Liberty Science Center"}],"products":["Verizon AI Skills for America","SciTech Scity"],"companies":[{"name":"Verizon Communications Inc.","ticker":"VZ","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Liberty Science Center","relationship":"grant recipient / partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$1 million","context":"grant to Liberty Science Center"},{"amount":"$138.2 billion","context":"Verizon 2025 revenues"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-23T19:45:05.049Z","global_importance":8,"audience_relevance":20,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"mega-cap","eventGravity":"philanthropy-csr","householdBrandBoost":true}},"durationMs":5010,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}