Wireless Phones Help Protect Battered Women

Wireless Phones Help Protect Battered Women

Verizon Wireless Donates 10 Phones to Sakhi For South Asian Women

May 12, 2000

May 12, 2000-ORANGEBURG, NY-

Continuing its ongoing commitment to assist victims of domestic violence, Verizon Wireless,

formerly Bell Atlantic Mobile, recently donated 10 wireless phones to Sakhi, a Manhattan-based

agency that works to end violence against South Asian women. Sakhi, which means "woman friend,"

serves South Asian women in all five boroughs of New York City.

The phones will be distributed through Sakhi to women at risk of repeated violence. Programmed

to dial 9-1-1 at the touch of a button, the phones will allow women to contact police immediately

when they feel threatened.

"These phones will offer women added protection as they try to re-build their lives," said Prema

Vora, executive director of Sakhi for South Asian Women. "The first woman to receive a phone is

moving back to her home and is worried about her personal safety. Even though her husband was

ordered to leave, she is afraid that he will return."

Founded in 1989, Sakhi works to empower South Asian women and create a safe environment for

them. Sakhi conducts monthly support groups for survivors of domestic violence, provides

referrals for legal and medical assistance, and helps women obtain public assistance, job

training, housing and other social services. All Sakhi's services are free and confidential.

Vora said many South Asian battered women do not use mainstream social services and shelters due

to language barriers, cultural differences and immigration status. Crisis calls to Sakhi's

Manhattan office number near 50 each month. Last year the non-profit agency served more than

250 women.

"Domestic violence is a growing problem that cuts across all income levels, cultures and

geographic areas," said Charles Hand, president of Verizon Wireless' New York Metro Region.

"These phones will help women as they look for a way out of their abusive situations and start

new lives for their families."

Verizon Wireless, formerly Bell Atlantic Mobile, has donated more than 1,300 wireless phones to

victims of domestic violence in New York and New Jersey during the past three years as part of

its Wireless At Work community service program. In addition, since January 1999, the company has

recycled more than 12,000 phones for use by victims as well as crossing guards, community patrols

and senior citizens in need of emergency communications.

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About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with over 16 million

wireless voice and data customers and nearly 4 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast

wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic

Corp.(NYSE:BEL) and Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD; NYSE:VOD). The new company includes the

assets from Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch

Paging. Verizon Wireless will be further strengthened by the addition of the U.S. wireless

assets of GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE) when it completes its merger with Bell Atlantic. When the merger

is complete, the new company will have a footprint covering nearly 90% of the U.S. population, 49

of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in New York

City and Bedminster, NJ, is 30,000 employees strong.

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