[June 06, 2019]

Granite Sponsors DRIVE SMART Virginia Events

Granite Telecommunications (News - Alert), LLC, a $1.4 billion provider of communications services to multilocation businesses and government agencies, has sponsored a series of DRIVE SMART Virginia (DSV) events at high schools in Fairfax County, Va. The series kicked off June 5 at Woodson High School with students participating in safe-driving activities. Additional events are scheduled to take place at Chantilly High School and James Madison High School shortly after the school year begins next fall.

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Students at Woodson High School in Fairfax County, Va., participated in safe-driving activities June 5 through the DRIVE SMART Virginia program sponsored by Granite. (Photo: Business Wire)

DSV is a non-profit organization charged with raising awareness and changing behavior to improve the safety of the roadways of the Commonwealth and has endeavored to improve the lives of all Virginians through its public information and education initiatives. Founded in 1995, the organization is led by a diverse board representing safety advocates, the insurance industry and law enforcement.

DSV's driving education events feature a high-tech, in-vehicle driving simulator, so teens can experience the dangers of distracted driving. Aditional activities include programming from local law enforcement agencies and an impaired tricycle course for students to navigate while wearing "drunk goggles" with lenses that are distorted in different ways to bend light and throw off depth perception, causing the eyes to act "drunk."

"In today's always-on environment, distractions while driving are on the rise and especially among younger Gen Zs in the summer months," said Tim Heaps, general manager of Granite Government Solutions, who lives and works in Fairfax County. "DSV's high school events give young drivers a chance to experience first-hand how dangerous it is to drive under the influence of alcohol or while dealing with distractions, such as cell phones, but in a controlled and safe setting. We're excited about sponsoring these important lessons and hope they will last a lifetime for participating students."

Helping others is part of Granite's mission. Since its inception, Granite has cultivated a culture of giving in many ways, including by personally and generously supporting charitable causes. Granite Gives Back philanthropic initiatives have raised more than $210 million dollars for hundreds of charities.

Company employees also get involved on the ground. At the Woodson High School event, several volunteers from Granite's Tysons Corner office helped students with the driving simulator and impaired tricycle course, and will participate in the next two events as well.

"Summertime is dangerous for teen drivers on our roadways," said Janet Brooking, executive director of DRIVE SMART Virginia. "Now is the time to raise awareness and we commend Granite Gives Back for hosting this important event. Our interactive programming has been proven to change teen driver attitudes and perspectives, which in turn can make our roadways and communities safer."

About Granite
Granite delivers one-stop communications solutions to multilocation businesses and government agencies throughout the United States and Canada. The $1.4 billion company serves more than two-thirds of the Fortune 100 companies in the United States, and has 1.75 million voice and data lines under management. Granite launched in 2002 and grew quickly by helping businesses to simplify sourcing and management of local and long-distance phone services with one point of contact and one invoice for all their office locations nationwide. Today, Granite is the leader in aggregating Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS), and has extended its unique value proposition - "one company, one contact, one bill" - to include a range of advance business communications services, including Internet access, SD-WAN, wireless WAN, hosted PBX (News - Alert), SIP trunking, mobile voice and data, mobile device management, managed security, network integration and much more. Granite employs more than 2,100 people at its headquarters in Quincy, Mass., and nine regional offices nationwide, including Tysons, Va. For more information, visit www.granitenet.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190606005698/en/

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