Verizon Wireless Columbia Call Center Employees To Present More Than $15,500 To Sistercare

COLUMBIA, SC — On Sunday, June 3, employees of the Verizon Wireless Columbia Call Center will present more than $15,500 to Sistercare, Inc., a nonprofit organization offering services to battered women and their children in Richland, Lexington, Fairfield, Newberry, and Kershaw counties. The presentation will be made as part of the Columbia Call Center's annual Family Fun Day to be celebrated this year at Weston Lakes Recreation Area from 1 to 5 p.m.

The presentation will mark the second year employees have raised funds for Sistercare, as they contributed $15,000 to the organization during last year's Family Fun Day. Both contributions have been made possible by undertaking fund-raising events throughout the year, including luncheons, bake sales, casual dress days, merchandise raffles and reserved parking space auctions, to name a few.

"Last year, our goal was to raise $6,000 for Sistercare, and our employees exceeded that amount by an impressive 150%, contributing $15,000," said Raymond J. Auch, director of customer service for the Columbia Call Center. "As we began our fund-raising efforts this year, we resolved to maintain or increase that contribution, so we could continue to positively impact the lives of domestic violence victims."

Sistercare will use this year's contribution to help fund two safe houses in Richland and Lexington counties. The safe houses provide emergency shelter for battered woman and their children. Last year, the contribution was used to help fund counseling services offered by the organization.

"We are extremely grateful for the support Verizon Wireless employees lend to our efforts," said Nancy Barton, executive director of Sistercare. "Through this and other contributions made over the years, the company demonstrates its continued commitment to battered women and their children."

This donation will be part of Verizon Wireless' community service program for domestic violence awareness. The company has donated more than 650 wireless phones and airtime and 645 voice mail boxes in the Carolinas Region. These wireless phones and voice mail boxes are used by Sistercare, other domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters and neighborhood watch programs.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 27 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 96 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.

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