PHILADELPHIA, March 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, in partnership with The Verizon Foundation, is pleased to announce the winners of the Verizon YouthTech Essay Contest. Now in its third year, the goal of the contest is to inspire young people to think creatively about how technology can be used to overcome the issues that face their community. The following students were chosen as this years winners:

Grand prize: -- Prince Ebo, University City High School Prince's youth technology development essay titled "Education through Music" outlines a music center with two studios for students to create and edit music. The center would be managed by local music producers to motivate students to obtain good grades. Second place winners: -- Dax Frakes, Central High School Dax's web design essay titled "Politics for Children" proposed a website that would outline recent political issues using language that students commonly use to help encourage young adults to vote. -- Hetu Suthar, Engineering & Science High School Hetu's web design essay titled "Religious Toleration", proposed a site that would explain world-wide religions and allow teens to connect and interact with each other about their different backgrounds and faiths. Third place winners are: -- Jeannette Lewis, Jules E. Mastbaum High School Jeannette's web design essay titled "Fight for Your Rights" proposes a site that would provide resources for women in abusive relationships. -- Rajany Mathew, Central High School Rajany's community service essay titled "Creation and Design of a Web Page for the Visually Impaired" describes services to perfect websites to assist the visually impaired. -- Jasmine Smith, Engineering & Science High School Jasmine's youth technology development essay titled "Children are the Future" proposes an idea to match youth with mentors in a five week program focused on different career opportunities.

On Wednesday, May 22nd, contest winners will be presented with awards. The grand prize winner will receive a brand new state-of-the-art laptop with wireless chip, wireless router, carrying case and multipurpose printer. The two second place winners will receive new laptops with wireless chips and carrying cases and printers, and the three third place winners will receive desktop computers and printers.

The Verizon Foundation began their partnership with United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania in 2004 to create a competition that would generate innovative ideas through technology. Since 2000, the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania has been dedicated to increasing and improving the use of technology by non-profits and communities on both a local and regional level.

The Verizon Foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the economically and socially disadvantaged.

Verizon delivers technology that touches life. The Verizon Foundation uses that technology and its financial resources to improve literacy and K-12 education; help families victimized by domestic violence; and improve the delivery of health care. In 2005, the foundation awarded more than $74 million in grants to charitable and nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, which is one of the largest employee volunteer programs in the United States and responsible for 2 million hours of community service since 2000 and $35.6 million in combined contributions to nonprofits in 2005 alone.

For more information on the foundation, visit http://www.verizon.com/foundation.

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Founded in 1921 by the business community, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania improves people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of donors, volunteers and communities. United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania is one of the region's largest non-profit organizations and one of approximately 1,400 affiliated United Ways nationwide. Each United Way is independent, separately incorporated, and governed by local volunteers. To learn more about United Way programs and partner agencies, or to donate or volunteer, visit http://www.uwsepa.org/.

CONTACT: Emily Rosenberg of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania,
+1-215-665-2509, +1-215-906-6310 (mobile), emilyr@uwsepa.org

Web site: http://www.uwsepa.org/
http://www.verizon.com/foundation