The site, http://www.com. They recognize outstanding communications
efforts that increase public awareness of foundations and corporate giving
programs.

therefore ways

com/news.com/foundation Web site, which provides basic
information about the BCBSM Foundation, funding criteria, grants available,
guidelines for submitting letters of interest, lists of published research
findings, and links to other resources

"Good communication is fundamental for the success of any organization
whose mission is to serve the community," said Ira Strumwasser, executive
director and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. "Each
year, we set higher standards for ourselves to meet the changing needs of
Michigan's health research and service organizations and to deliver our
information to them in improved formats.

Communities Foundation of Texas Selects Blackbaud Solution to Manage Complex Network of Relationships

"As one of the largest community foundations in the country, we
needed a partner who could not only provide a strong operational
platform, but one who also understood our unique business needs," CFT
Interim Executive Director Jack Kinnebrew said.
The California Community Foundation, the Greater Lafayette
Community Foundation and the Coastal Community Foundation of South
Carolina also rely on Blackbaud solutions to cultivate relationships,
raise money and manage hundreds of funds.

govern purposes

grants donate

The national awards are given by the Council on Foundations
and the Communications Network .C. Today, CFT is the
largest community foundation in Texas and the South, having
distributed more than $650 million in grants on behalf of donors,
while building more that $600 million in assets .com
Blackbaud, the Blackbaud logo, The Raiser's Edge, The Financial
Edge, The Education Edge, The Patron Edge, Blackbaud NetCommunity, The
Information Edge, WealthPoint and ProspectPoint are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Blackbaud, Inc. In addition, other important factors that could
cause results to differ materially include the following: risk
associated with successful implementation of multiple integrated
software products; lengthy sales and implementation cycles ,
particularly in larger organizations; uncertainty regarding increased
business and renewals from existing customers; continued success in
sales growth; adoption of our products and services by nonprofits;
risks related to our dividend and stock repurchase program, including
potential limitations on our ability to grow and the possibility that
we might discontinue payment of dividends; risk associated with
product concentration; economic conditions and seasonality;
competition; risks associated with management of growth; risks
associated with acquisitions; technological changes that make our
products and services less competitive; the ability to attract and
retain key personnel; and the other risk factors set forth from time
to time in the SEC filings for Blackbaud, copies of which are
available free of charge upon request from Blackbaud's investor
relations department.

rather grants

The foundation also encourages nonprofits to utilize the Internet to enhance
their operations and communications capabilities.
(NYSE: VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services.
Verizon has a diverse work force of more than 210,000 in four business units:
Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline
telecommunications services, including broadband and other services. Verizon
Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network,
serving 43.

None of the foundation's grant-making resources comes from BCBSM
customer premium payments. To this end, CFT signed
an agreement in December 2004 to deploy a combination of software and
services from Blackbaud including The Raiser's Edge(R) (for
fundraising management ), The Information Edge(TM) (for Business
Intelligence), and The Financial Edge(TM) (for financial management).

Further, community foundations are usually classified under the tax code as public charities and therefore are subject to different rules and regulations than those which govern private foundations .

funding donors

The award was presented at
the Council on Foundations' 56th annual conference today.

govern donors

The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that
last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer 528,000 hours in their
communities and provided $37.

kenya foundation

The judges
noted that Verizon's Web site, selected from among nearly 250 applicants,
demonstrates the company's commitment to effective communications and serves
as a model of excellence for other grant-makers. This is the second
time Verizon has received this Gold Award.

In 2004, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than 26,000 grants totaling
more than $70 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on
improving literacy, computer and technology skills, and identifying domestic
violence solutions.

With more than $71 billion in annual revenues, Verizon Communications Inc.8 million voice and data customers across the United States.verizon.

endowment charitable

Verizon Foundation Wins Gold Award For Innovative Web Site

The program recognizes effective communications efforts that increase
public awareness of foundations and corporate-giving programs.

CFT needed a technology solution to manage their critical
processes, from cultivating relationships with donors and charitable
organizations to managing hundreds of funds. Over five decades,
CFT has distributed more than $650 million in charitable grants on
behalf of more than 750 donors and has built assets of more than $600
million dollars .

typically derived

The 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. For additional information , please visit the BCBSM
Foundation Web site at http://www. More than
12,500 organizations - including the American Red Cross, Bowdoin
College, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Crohn's + Colitis
Foundation of America, the Detroit Zoological Society, Episcopal High
School, Help the Aged, the Mayo Foundation , the New York Philharmonic
and United Way of America - use Blackbaud products and consulting
services for fundraising, financial management, business intelligence
and school administration. Founded in 1981, Blackbaud is
headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and has operations in
Toronto , Ontario, Glasgow, Scotland, and Sydney, Australia.

rather derived

Sywolski,
chief executive officer of Blackbaud , Inc.

About the Communities Foundation of Texas
CFT was founded in 1953 and is committed to promoting the promise
of philanthropy and to creating a growing and lasting endowment in the
name of its donors, both living and departed, helping to carry out
their legacies while building a better community.

making endowment

For more information on the foundation, visit
http://www. For more
information, visit http://www.bcbsm.
The foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association . The foundation was funded through an endowment
from Michigan physicians in 1983 and from proceeds of an earlier prescription
drug lawsuit settlement.

Business Editors

CHARLESTON, S .

further purposes

com/foundation, received top
honors for excellence in communications in the category recognizing large
corporate foundations.
The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications ,
pioneered the use of the Internet when it became the first corporate "cyber-
foundation" in 1995 , requiring that grant applications be submitted online."
The Verizon Foundation is accessible round-the-clock seven days a week, in
English and Spanish, via the Web site.com/foundation.com/foundation .
"We are proud to collaborate with the Communities Foundation of
Texas as they take a leadership role in using technology to strengthen
bonds with donors and manage more than $600 million in valuable
philanthropic assets," said Sywolski. Although Blackbaud attempts to be accurate in making
these forward-looking statements, it is possible that future
circumstances might differ from the assumptions on which such
statements are based.

kenya further

The site
also contains a series of best-in class technology success stories and tools
that help nonprofits evaluate their technology needs. International includes wireline and wireless
operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the
News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news
releases."
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation is dedicated to
improving the health of Michigan residents through the support of research and
innovative health programs.bcbsm. Blackbaud's solutions include The Raiser's
Edge(R), The Financial Edge(TM), The Education Edge(TM), The Patron
Edge(TM), Blackbaud NetCommunity(TM), The Information Edge(TM),
WealthPoint (TM) and ProspectPoint(TM), as well as a wide range of
consulting and educational services.

foundations making

verizon .

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches
and biographies , media contacts, high quality video and images, and other
information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at
http://www."
Since 1953, philanthropists have turned to CFT for a long-term
approach to charitable giving. CFT gives its donors customized
solutions that implement the donor's philanthropic intentions through
innovative programs that offer optimal tax advantages and combine
responsible investing and effective grantmaking. For more
information, visit www.

foundation philanthropy

Blackbaud is the leading global provider of software and related
services designed specifically for nonprofit organizations.

kenya classified

The Council on Foundations is a nonprofit membership association
consisting of more than 2,000 organizations that promote strategic
communication as an essential part of successful philanthropy.6 million in combined contributions to charitable
and nonprofit organizations.

A community foundation's funds, however, are derived from many donors rather than a single source, as is usually the case with private foundations.

philanthropy purposes

Philanthropic Division Receives Highest Honor for Communications Excellence

NEW YORK, The Verizon Foundation's Web site has
won a Gold Award from the Council on Foundations' 2005 Wilmer Shields Rich
Awards Program .
"This award is a prestigious honor for the company," said Patrick Gaston,
president of the Verizon Foundation. Three awards for excellent communications go to
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation

DETROIT, The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Foundation will receive three silver medals from the 2005 Wilmer Shields Rich
Awards Program.

Forward-looking statements

Except for historical information, all of the statements,
expectations , and assumptions contained in this news release are
forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties.

It typically makes grants in a variety of program areas, such as education , health, human needs, and arts, in a limited geographic area.

donate donors

The award
affirms that we're doing the right things to reach nonprofits striving to make
a difference in their communities.

Michigan Blues Foundation Strikes Silver

The awards will be presented April 11 at the 56th Annual Conference
of the Council on Foundations in San Diego.
The BCBSM Foundation has won 21 Wilmer Shields Rich Awards since 1995: six
gold, eight silver, six bronze and one runner-up.
The BCBSM Foundation is the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Michigan and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit , incorporated separately from BCBSM.----

Will deploy integrated technology solution to strengthen
connections with more than 750 funds for individuals,
families , corporations and businesses

Blackbaud, Inc.

About Blackbaud, Inc.

derived making

(Nasdaq: BLKB), the leading provider of software
and related services designed specifically for nonprofit
organizations , announced today that the Communities Foundation of
Texas (CFT) has selected the company's integrated technology solution
to better serve donors and nonprofits across the state.
"Blackbaud has a long history of working with community
foundations, providing technology solutions, developing best practices
and understanding our own community's needs," said Robert J.

endowment typically

This national recognition for the
quality of our communication efforts here in Michigan is a bonus that inspires
us to continue setting higher goals and striving to meet them.

further govern

verizon. BCBSM Foundation grant programs are conducted in
Michigan by Michigan-based researchers and nonprofit organizations to address
issues of quality and costs of care, access to care, and community health.

In its general charitable purposes, a community foundation is much like a private foundation.

grants kenya

This year's three silver
awards are for:

* Applying the Research Edge (2003 Annual Report)
* Three grant program brochures that described available funding for
research on adult depression, domestic abuse and hospital patient safety
* The http://www. "CFT selected
Blackbaud because the company is held in high regard within our
industry .

kenya ways

"The Internet is a powerful tool that
provides a wealth of information to charitable organizations .
Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides
electronic commerce services. Blackbaud was able to provide CFT with technology solutions
to better manage more than 750 funds for individuals, families,
corporations, and businesses representing more than a half-billion
dollars in assets., which created its own fund
at the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina and relies on
employees to select grant recipients.

donors foundations

The foundation's site includes
guidelines , an eligibility quiz and the online grant application.verizon.blackbaud.