Verizon Wireless Safety First Seminar

KANSAS CITY, MO — Verizon Wireless is sponsoring a free public safety seminar on Saturday, January 13 from 9 a.m. - noon at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City. The seminar will feature safety tips for personal protection at work and at home for the prevention of crimes such as date rape, domestic abuse, carjackings and internet crime.

Advance reservations can be made by stopping by any area Verizon Wireless retail store, by faxing KUDL radio at 913-677-8040 or logging onto KUDL radio at www.kudl.com. On-site registration will begin at 8:45 a.m. in the Empire Room at the Hyatt Regency.

Verizon Wireless has also committed that a donation of $20 for each attendee will be made to the "Speak Out for Stephanie Foundation," an educational advocacy organization founded by one of the seminar's keynote speakers, Gene and Peggy Schmidt.

"Verizon Wireless has made a commitment to enhancing personal safety and particularly to domestic violence prevention," said Kirk Golbach, president for Verizon Wireless in the Kansas/Missouri Region. "By attending the seminar the public will gain valuable safety tips and assist us in supporting a very worthwhile organization."

The Schmidt's formed the "Speak Out for Stephanie Foundation" after the tragic death of their 19 year-old daughter in 1993 by a man already convicted of one violent sex crime. They have successfully lobbied for new laws in the state of Kansas and on the national level and are dedicated to educational outreach to teach others how to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

"Our message is to be responsible for the choices that you make in your life," said Peggy Schmidt. "We encourage parents to help their children and stay in touch with them. For example, when you send your kids off to school, be sure that their car is in good working condition and that a wireless phone is in the car for emergencies."

Other seminar sessions include an address by author Ruth Herrman Siress on "Self-Esteem Survival Skills" and a panel with Michael Betten and Mike Jacobson of the Overland Park Police Department. The Verizon Wireless Safety First seminar is also sponsored by the Hyatt Regency Crown Center and KUDL Radio.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S.with 27.5 million wireless voice and data customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp -- now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company 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, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 38,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

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