BellSouth in Your Community

At BellSouth, we believe it is important to support the communities in which we live and operate. As a good corporate citizen, BellSouth is actively involved in supporting interests and activities of importance to Mississippi citizens. BellSouth supports various events and activities in the arts, education, health and human services and the environment. Specifics include:

Arts and Cultural Events

BellSouth is a principal sponsor of such world-class exhibitions as the Palaces of St. Petersburg and the Splendors of Versailles. BellSouth also supports such organizations as the Mississippi Symphony, the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Mississippi Opera and the USA International Ballet Competition.

The USA International Ballet Competition

Since its beginning in 1978, BellSouth has been a major supporter of this international event that showcases the most talented ballet dancers from around the world.

• More than 200 BellSouth employees volunteer to help produce this competition that is hosted in Jackson every four years.
• The event brings thousands of visitors to Mississippi and is a tremendous economic boost to the state.

Education

NetDay Programs

• Approximately 175 of Mississippi's public schools now have Internet service, thanks to BellSouth's NetDay program.
• BellSouth volunteers have worked with school officials and community volunteers to wire schools in 64 Mississippi school districts.
• Mississippi's only hospital dedicated to the treatment and care of children, the Blair B. Batson Children's Hospital at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, now has Internet access in all of the hospital's patient rooms.

Junior Achievement

• In partnership with Junior Achievement of Mississippi, BellSouth helps to provide students of all ages a quality curriculum of study on personal economics, investing and the free enterprise system.
• BellSouth employees volunteer each year to teach approximately 35 Junior Achievement classes in elementary, middle and high schools in Mississippi.
• BellSouth recently partnered with Junior Achievement for administration of BellSouth's award-winning Groundhog Day program. This new educational outlet, referred to as Job Shadowing, provided a glimpse into telecommunications careers for over 125 Mississippi middle school students in 1998 alone.
• BellSouth contributes directly to the growth and development of Junior Achievement of Mississippi by participating in the organization's annual telemarketing campaign and annual fundraisers.

BellSouth Pioneers

• The Mississippi Chapter of BellSouth Pioneers is made up of active and retired employees of the company. Mississippi Pioneers conduct more than 300 community service projects throughout the state each year.
• The chapter's major emphasis is placed on conducting and supporting projects to improve educational opportunities for the children of Mississippi. However, the group also conducts projects dealing with health and human services, the environment and life enrichment.
• Last year, BellSouth Pioneers in Mississippi contributed more than one half million volunteer hours and more than $250,000 in service to the state communities.
• These efforts have helped the chapter gain national recognition from groups such as the President's Points of Light Association and the Telephone Pioneers of America. State recognition comes from the JC Penney company, the Governor's Volunteer Service and numerous non-profit organizations for volunteerism within the state.

The United Way

• BellSouth Mississippi employees support 27 local and regional United Way of America affiliates in the state of Mississippi.
• These United Way affiliates fund a host of programs that address community needs, including eldercare, child care, drug and alcohol prevention, prevention of crime and gang violence, and health and human services.