Verizon Offers $100,000 in Grants to Florida Organizations Assisting Survivors of Domestic Violence

Verizon is offering a total of $100,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations in Florida to support the organizations' domestic violence prevention and service programs.

The Verizon Foundation and Verizon Wireless, through its HopeLine® program, focus on helping survivors of domestic violence and raising awareness of this often-silent epidemic. Across Florida, HopeLine provides wireless phones and cash grants to local shelters and nonprofit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.

Through the 2010 Verizon Foundation Domestic Violence Solutions Awards RFP, nonprofit agencies in Florida are invited to apply for 10 grants of $10,000 each to support domestic violence service initiatives.

"Verizon has a long-standing tradition of partnering with nonprofit agencies to help support the prevention of domestic violence," said Michelle Robinson, Verizon's Southeast region president.  "These grants will provide services for survivors of domestic abuse and their families, and we are pleased to continue our support of these agencies as they address this key social issue."

Pam Tope, president of Verizon Wireless in Florida, said, "Through the HopeLine Program, we aspire to raise awareness and strengthen efforts to prevent domestic violence, as well as provide assistance to survivors in need.  We're proud to support these worthy organizations, which are helping our communities move closer to ending the cycle of violence."

The Florida 2010 Domestic Violence Solutions Awards will support:

• The use of technology to improve domestic violence prevention and awareness programs.

• Programs that enable an agency to more effectively reach the community it serves.
• Programs that provide participants with strategies for enhancing their safety and use of community resources.
• Proposals that provide job-related technology training for individuals participating in domestic violence programs.

More information on the RFP and the application is available at www.verizon.com/fl.  The deadline for applying is August 31.

HopeLine, Verizon Wireless' exclusive phone recycling program, collects no-longer-used wireless equipment from any wireless service provider at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or by mail. Phones donated to HopeLine are sold or recycled in an environmentally sound manner, with the proceeds benefiting nonprofits.

Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has distributed more than 90,000 phones with more than 300 million minutes of free wireless service to be used by victims of domestic violence. Through HopeLine's recycling efforts, more than 1.6 million no-longer-used wireless phones have been disposed of properly; more than 170,000 pounds of batteries have been recycled; and more than 200 tons of electronics waste and batteries have been kept out of landfills.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $26.1 million in combined contributions to nonprofits. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving nearly 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 81,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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 mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 93 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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