Fresno County Dept of Probation, Verizon Wireless and Motorola Team To Combat Domestic Violence

Fresno County Department Of Probation, Verizon Wireless And Motorola Team To Combat Domestic Violence In Fresno

Verizon Wireless and Motorola Donate 50 Wireless Phones and Service
For Safety of Potential Domestic Violence Victims

April 5, 2001

FRESNO, CA

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The Fresno County Probation Department, Verizon Wireless, and Motorola are taking action to lessen the toll of domestic violence on families in Fresno County. Verizon Wireless and Motorola are donating 50 pre-programmed digital wireless phones and service airtime to the Victim Witness Services Division of the Fresno County Probation Department.

The phones, which can be carried by potential victims at all times, will help ensure the safety of women who are threatened with stalking or domestic violence. In an emergency, pressing one button on the phone connects the victim with a Fresno Police Department dispatcher who can then quickly assess the situation and send the woman the help she needs.

"Victims of domestic violence and stalking will have a new sense of security with this technology at their fingertips," said Fresno County Chief Probation Officer Larry Price. "This generous donation from Verizon Wireless and Motorola will be a tremendous enhancement to our program in our efforts to better protect innocent victims from the mindless attacks of their predators. On behalf of all victims, we wish to thank the people at Verizon Wireless and Motorola for making this happen in Fresno County."

Verizon Wireless has donated thousands of wireless phones and service lines for use by victims of domestic violence. "Wireless phones can, and do, help improve personal and community safety every day," said Ralph Martinez, Regional President for Verizon Wireless. "Our service, along with the phones, can offer additional comfort to domestic abuse victims so they can feel safer and move forward with their lives."

Motorola has donated approximately 17,000 new wireless phones to shelters for use by victims of domestic abuse in the U.S. "Motorola is proud to continue its tradition of applying its technology to help improve the lives of individuals and entire communities," said Denise Gibson, Vice President and Director of Customer Technical Solutions, Motorola.

The donation from Verizon Wireless and Motorola is part of the CALL to PROTECT program, a national educational and philanthropic initiative that provides the security and mobility of wireless phones to victims of domestic violence. CALL to PROTECT phones help provide security for nearly 100,000 women nationwide.

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Editor's Note: For U.S. facts on the incidence of domestic violence, please call April Sands, Public Relations Manager, Verizon Wireless, 925-904-3712.

The Victim Witness Services Division of the Fresno County Probation Department focuses on providing counseling, information, advocacy and support to victims of crime, which includes obtaining reimbursement for qualifying losses through the California Victims of Crime Program. Clients are offered a full spectrum of services designed to reduce victim trauma. These services include crisis intervention and counseling; emergency assistance, casework and referrals to other agencies; information about the criminal justice system and case processing; court assistance and accompaniment; child care, property return, transportation, translation, and restraining orders.

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 27.5 million wireless voice and data customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless has donated thousands of wireless phones pre-programmed to dial 9-1-1 to domestic violence shelters for use by victims. In addition, its HopeLine® program has given more than 10,000 free voice mailboxes to individuals in shelters who do not have access to a personal phone line. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web at: www.verizonwireless.com.

Motorola, Inc. (NYS:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 1999 were $33.1 billion. Motorola has donated 17,000 new wireless phones to shelters for use by victims of domestic abuse in the United States. For more information, please visit the Motorola Web site at www.motorola.com.

The Wireless Foundation initiates and oversees strategic corporate philanthropy programs utilizing wireless communications to make communities safer, families more secure and teachers more effective. For additional information on the Wireless Foundation, please visit www.wirelessfoundation.org.