Qwest Awards Montana Conservation Science Institute With $8,000 For Camp Eureka!

MISSOULA, N.D., September 4, 2007 - The Qwest Foundation today announced its award of $8,000 to the Montana Conservation Science Institute's annual Camp Eureka! - a summer natural history camp for blind children. This year's camp took place Aug. 13-17 at Flathead Lake in Polson, Mont.

"We were pleased to participate in this year's Camp Eureka!," said David Gibson, Qwest president for Montana. "Qwest is committed to education in Montana and this camp gave us a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of blind and low-vision children."

"We are so grateful for Qwest's contributions to our very enriching camp," said Beth Underwood, director, Camp Eureka!. "Thanks to Qwest, Montana's blind children are able to identify their dreams and come to recognize that, by acquiring the necessary skills and a positive attitude, they actually can make those dreams a reality."

Camp Eureka! is a program that was created in 2005 through a partnership with the Montana Conservation Science Institute; the National Federation of the Blind's Jernigan Institute and National Center for Blind Youth in Science; and the Montana Association for the Blind. The program provides an opportunity for children ages 9 through 14 to come together with peers and mentors and explore nature in Montana while practicing the alternative skills of blindness.

About Qwest Foundation
The Qwest Foundation's core principle is that investing in people and communities provides lasting value for the future. The Qwest Foundation awards grants to community-based programs that generate high-impact and measurable results, focusing on K through grade 12 education and economic development.