Qwest Foundation Displays Spirit of Service in New Mexico Through Donations, Volunteerism...

Qwest Foundation Displays Spirit of Service in New Mexico Through Donations, Volunteerism in 2007

$255,000 Donated to New Mexico Organizations; Employees and Qwest
Pioneers Donated More Than 30,000 Hours
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(Business Wire)--Qwest and the Qwest Foundation are excited to enter a new year of
giving, and pleased to highlight philanthropic work that took place
throughout the state of New Mexico in 2007. Last year, Qwest, Qwest
employees and the Qwest Foundation donated more than $255,000 to
various causes throughout the state -- while employees and retirees
volunteered more than 30,000 hours with a value of nearly $572,000.
That brings the total value of donations and volunteer hours in New
Mexico to more than $827,000.

"The Qwest Spirit of Service is something Qwest employees carry
with them throughout the entire year," said Loretta A. Armenta, Qwest
president of New Mexico. "It is an honor to be associated with people
who give so generously of their time and resources to better the
communities we live in."

Qwest Foundation donations and volunteer hours include the
following:

Qwest Foundation grants to nonprofit organizations throughout New
Mexico totaled $154,450 in 2007. Grant recipients included:
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce; Albuquerque-Bernalillo County
Library System; Belen Consolidated Schools; Esperanza Shelter for
Battered Families, Santa Fe; Teach for America, Gallup; Western New
Mexico University, Silver City; Farmington Chamber of Commerce CHOICES
program; and more.

Thanks to a $50,000 Qwest Foundation grant for the Qwest Teachers
and Technology program, Albuquerque Public Schools provided financial
resources to teachers interested in developing creative ways to use
technology in the classroom. The grant program recognizes New Mexico
K-12 teachers who are already creative technology integrators, and
want to take the power of digital learning technologies to the next
level.

During the 2007 United Way campaign, Qwest New Mexico employees
donated more than $33,500, with a 33 percent participation rate from
employees. The Qwest Foundation matched employee contributions 75
cents to the dollar, adding another $47,300 for a total of nearly
$80,900. Seven different United Way agencies received funding: United
Way of Central New Mexico, Albuquerque; United Way of Chaves County,
Roswell; United Way of Eastern New Mexico, Clovis; United Way of
Northern New Mexico, Los Alamos; United Way of Otero County,
Alamogordo; United Way of Santa Fe County, Santa Fe; United Way of
Southwest New Mexico, Las Cruces.

The Qwest Pioneers are part of the Telecom Pioneers, the largest,
industry-related volunteer organization in the world. As a group of
employees and retirees, Qwest Pioneers donate their time and talents
to community projects. In 2007, Qwest New Mexico Pioneers volunteered
more than 30,000 hours to 49 projects.

The Matching Time grants are another way Qwest employees give back
to their communities. Employees who volunteer 60 hours of time over a
six-month period receive a check for $500 for the nonprofit on behalf
of the volunteer and the Qwest Foundation. With the Foundation's focus
on education, it will donate $1,000 to the nonprofit agency on behalf
of employees who volunteer their time with programs that directly
advance classroom success. In New Mexico, the Qwest Foundation made 13
Matching Time grants to six different organizations in 2007, donating
a total of $9,500.

Qwest also sponsored community events like the Santa Fe Spanish
Market and the Hatch Chile Festival.

"With a rich history of donating to the community, Qwest is
looking forward to continuing our philanthropic work in 2008 and
beyond," said Armenta. "We're proud to be in New Mexico and promise to
continue our mission of serving our communities with the Qwest Spirit
of Service."

About Qwest Foundation

The Qwest Foundation's core principle is that investing in people
and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest
Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate
high-impact and measurable results, focusing on pre-K through grade 12
education.

Qwest Communications International Inc.
Gary Younger, 801-237-6902
Cell: 801-608-4971
gary.younger@qwest.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008