Fourteen Nonprofit Organizations Receive $200,000 in Grants From Verizon for Domestic Violence Prevention and Education Programs in New Jersey

In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 14 nonprofit organizations across the Garden State have received $200,000 in grants from the Verizon Foundation to support technology-based programs that raise awareness of domestic violence and that provide support to survivors.

Verizon officials awarded the grants Wednesday (Oct. 26) during an event in Lincroft.  Attendees included Dennis Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey, and Assemblyman David Wolfe and Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, who were sponsors of a recently passed bill that addresses dating violence in school and requires school districts to incorporate dating-violence education into their curriculums.

"Domestic violence is a widespread problem that extends beyond the relationship between two people and is a known contributor to child abuse and workplace violence," said Bone.  "These Verizon Foundation grants will shine the spotlight on this issue and provide these agencies additional resources to help survivors and their families recover."

The agencies receiving grants participated in a competitive grant-award process earlier this year, submitting proposals that outlined how they could effectively reach the communities they serve by using technology to raise awareness of domestic violence issues and aid in prevention efforts.

The following organizations have received grants:

• 180 - Turning Lives Around, Hazlet, for a youth helpline bilingual counselor.

• Clara Maass Medical Center/The Safe House, Belleville, for a self-sufficiency success project.
• Family Guidance Center Corporation, Trenton, for a mental health support group for survivors of domestic violence.
• Friends' Health Connection, New Brunswick, for a series to educate individuals with disabilities and empower them to take action against domestic violence.
• Jersey Battered Women's Service Inc., Morristown, for its ACT (Abuse Ceases Today) program.
• Main Street Counseling Services, West Orange, for its Stopping The Cycle program.
• Resource Center of Somerset Inc., Hillsborough, for outreach programs and services.
• Rutgers University Foundation - Institute for Women's Leadership, New Brunswick, for the Young Women Leadership on Domestic Violence program.
• Shelter Our Sisters, Hackensack, for Project Self-Sufficiency.
• Tree House Haven Inc., Mt. Holly, for Project Overnight.
• Volunteers of America - Delaware Valley, Collingswood, for a family violence prevention program.
• Wafa House Inc., Clifton, for services to aid Wafa House clients.
• Womenrising Inc., Jersey City, for supportive services.
• YMCA of Burlington and Camden Counties, Mt. Laurel, for the YMCA WOC Hope program.

Earlier this month, President Obama issued a proclamation declaring October 2011 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urging Americans to speak out against domestic violence.

Under the HopeLine from Verizon program, no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories are collected at Verizon Wireless stores, or by mail, to help victims of domestic violence. The devices are refurbished or recycled in an environmentally friendly way. Refurbished phones are donated along with 3,000 minutes of wireless service to local domestic violence organizations and law enforcement agencies for use by their domestic violence clients. In addition, proceeds from HopeLine fund a variety of innovative programs.  Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones, properly disposed of 1.7 million no-longer-used wireless phones, and kept more than 210 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills. For store locations and to learn how to donate a phone using a postage-paid mailing label, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 107 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $106.6 billion in 2010 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

####