Wireless Phones Aid Family Violence Outreach Program

Wireless Phones Aid Family Violence Outreach Program

Verizon Wireless Teams up with Council for Children In Crisis
as Part of Domestic Violence Outreach

October 19, 2001

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WALLINGFORD, CT

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Continuing its commitment to domestic violence prevention and awareness, Verizon Wireless today donated five wireless phones to the Family Violence Outreach Program at New Haven's Coordinating Council for Children in Crisis (CCCC).

The phones, programmed to dial 9-1-1 and the Domestic Violence Services' emergency hotline, were presented at the CCCC's second annual event, "Voices of Victims, Messages of Despair, Hope and Healing" and will aid victims who are in particularly dangerous situations, according to Danielle Morisse, MSW, coordinator of the Family Violence Outreach Program.

In addition to its donation with the CCCC, Verizon Wireless has announced several donations and initiatives in Connecticut this month, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For example:

• Wish List Drives for Shelters. The company's Wallingford headquarters and Meriden Customer Call Center are collecting household goods to donate to Chrysalis, the Wallingford-Meriden Domestic Violence Center, and The Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven.

• Invest In Yourself Seminars. The company will also empower domestic violence victims in Waterbury and Fairfield County with a seminar entitled, "Invest in Yourself." This course will provide practical tips on how to get a job, like writing a resume and interview skills.
• Lunch and Learn. For its employees, Verizon Wireless is sponsoring a "Lunch & Learn" session on domestic violence with a guest speaker from Greater New Haven Domestic Violence Services, who will give advice on where to get help if they, a colleague or a loved one are faced with this issue.

Through its HopeLine program, Verizon Wireless puts its own wireless products and services into the hands of victims to help get their lives back on track. The company has donated thousands of wireless phones, pre-programmed to dial 9-1-1 and one other emergency number, in the event of an encounter with an abuser. Voice mailboxes are also donated to individuals in shelters, allowing for private communication with family members, potential employers and landlords without the abuser's knowledge.

"As a company, we have taken progressive steps to ensure the well-being of our employees. And as people who live and work throughout Connecticut, we are proud to support organizations that make a difference by promoting domestic violence awareness and prevention in our communities," said Bob Stott, president for Verizon Wireless' New England Region.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 28.7 million wireless voice and data customers. The coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD), including Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless and PrimeCo Personal Communications. Verizon Wireless has a footprint covering more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 97 of the top 100 U.S. markets. The company, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 40,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.