BUFFALO, NY — The Verizon Foundation has awarded a grant of $20,000 to Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) to help the Institute launch “Roswellink.” This new program allows patients, families and friends to access a wireless fidelity network (WiFi) in the RPCI lobby and ground floor clinic waiting areas. Wireless access will then expand throughout the whole hospital and a portion of Roswell’s WJK Park & Gardens starting this May.

“Roswell Park is committed to helping our patients and visitors enhance their ability to communicate with their friends, families and colleagues while they are at the Institute,” said Judy Smith, MD, Medical Director. “Our new wireless network offers great flexibility to everyone who needs to come to Roswell Park.”

In addition to allowing for the set-up of the wireless network, the Verizon Foundation grant has allowed Roswell Park to purchase laptops for patient usage that will be available upon request from the Community Cancer Resource Center. Any visitor to the Institute with their own computer will be able to access the network through launching their own preferred browser.

“We are pleased to offer our Verizon Broadband service to Roswell Park Cancer Institute visitors and patients,” said Maureen Rasp-Glose, Verizon director of community affairs. “We want to make the health care experience as productive and positive as possible.”

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving 49.3 million customers nationwide, and one of the nation’s premier wireline networks, serving home, business and wholesale customers in 28 states.  Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of nearly 215,000 and generates annual revenues of more than $71 billion from four business segments: Domestic Telecom, Domestic Wireless, Information Services and International. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.
 
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute- designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers. For more information, visit the RPCI website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.