With a $300,000 grant from Verizon (News - Alert), Web Wise Kids plans to help teach young people how to safely and responsibly use wireless phones. Educating youth about wireless and online safety has become a critical issue thanks to exponential growth in the teen and pre-teen cell phone market.

"Verizon's goal is to build America's best wireless and fiber-optic networks while ensuring that our customers have the best possible experience using those networks," said Tim McCallion, Verizon’s West Region President. "This program furthers that goal by creating a dynamic and engaging educational game to teach young people how to protect themselves online and enjoy all the positive aspects of the technological revolution."

Web Wise Kids plans to develop and distribute an educational Internet safety game designed specifically for instructing young people on safe and responsible behavior, as well as protecting them from predators, hackers and thieves.

"The goal is to provide parents, law enforcement and educators with an innovative program to help youth understand the importance of using the Internet and cell phones responsibly,” said Web Wise Kids president Judi Westberg. “We are most grateful to Verizon for its generous support and vision in this area. This new partnership will provide answers to the questions that young people have about the new frontier in modern communications."

Funded by the Verizon Foundation, the grant was announced at the California Cyber Security Summit 2008 in Burbank.