BISMARCK, N.D., Mar 31, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q) today announced a $7,500 donation to Carrie's Kids, a North Dakota nonprofit organization that helps homeless children, youth and their families. The grant was made on behalf of Delores Mitzel, a Qwest employee and volunteer with Carrie's Kids.

The grant is part of Qwest's Family and Work Development program, through which a board--made up of Qwest's management employees and employees represented by the Communications Workers of America--allocates funds each year. Qwest employees nominate qualifying organizations for which they volunteer, and if selected, the organization receives a grant check from Qwest in the employee's name.

"I think it's awesome that Qwest supports employees' community efforts," said Mitzel, a credit and collections supervisor with Qwest's Business Markets Group.

"It's wonderfully fulfilling to volunteer with Carrie's Kids, and the Qwest grant makes it all the more rewarding." Carrie's Kids' supporters help conduct outreach and assist and stabilize children and youth so they receive as solid an education as their circumstances permit. By motivating youth and meeting their immediate needs, like providing food, shelter, medicine, and clothing, the organization strives to enhance lives with sports sponsors, mentors, finding and moving furniture, and much more.

"Carrie's Kids gives the children and youth who are experiencing homelessness in our state someone to turn to," said Carrie Grosz, director of Carrie's Kids.

"The work our volunteers do has helped more than 300 kids since we started the program in 2005, and I'm grateful to Delores and to Qwest for supporting this important mission." The $7,500 grant will help cover expenses for food, clothing, shelter and other supplies. Mitzel will celebrate her 19th year with Qwest in May; she has volunteered for Carrie's Kids for about a year and a half.

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