California Nonprofit Agencies Receive $2.4 Million From Verizon for Domestic Violence Prevention Efforts in 2011

As part of their ongoing commitment to domestic violence awareness and prevention, the Verizon Foundation and the HopeLine from Verizon program have awarded $2.4 million in grants this year to California nonprofit agencies for use in education, advocacy, support and prevention initiatives across the state.

Supporting initiatives to increase awareness of domestic violence and aid in its prevention is a key issue for Verizon and its philanthropic activities.  In the past three years, the Verizon Foundation has awarded more than $6 million to nonprofits that focus on domestic violence in California.

"Domestic violence is a tragic epidemic that affects families in every community of our state, regardless of location or socio-economic status," said Tim McCallion, Verizon's West region president. "Verizon's partnerships with community organizations are empowering survivors to rebuild their lives."

Among the California nonprofits receiving domestic violence prevention grants from Verizon this year are:

• San Diego Family Justice Center Foundation, San Diego - $150,000 to offer on-site job training and counseling services.

• Laura's House, Ladera Ranch - $75,000 to build a computer laboratory on site for clients to learn job skills, and to upgrade the agency's case-management computer system.
• Human Options, Santa Ana - $75,000 to expand staff and volunteer training programs, and to purchase shelter supplies for victims living in the agency's shelter.
• Operation Safe House, Riverside - $75,000 to provide transitional housing services to youths exposed to violence in their homes.
• Center for Domestic Peace, San Rafael - $50,000 to enhance Marin County's response to teen dating violence.
• Interface Children and Family Service, Camarillo - $30,000 to increase awareness of, and prevent, dating violence among teens.
• Glide Women's Center, San Francisco - $25,000 to provide comprehensive health and human services - including education, intervention and prevention - for survivors of domestic violence.
• San Diego LGBT Center, San Diego - $24,500 to increase community awareness of the signs and symptoms of same-sex domestic violence, as well as the resources available to same-sex couples and families for treatment and intervention.
• Project Amiga, South El Monte - $20,000 to empower victims of domestic violence with transitional skills to leave their unsafe and unhealthy relationships.

In addition, thousands of survivors of domestic violence in California benefited from the HopeLine for Verizon phone recycling program.  In 2011, HopeLine provided:

• More than 2,727 pre-paid phones and 8.1 million minutes of free airtime to help victims in shelters become survivors.

• More than $675,000 in cash grants to support direct client services such as crisis hotlines, legal services, in-shelter child services and many others.

Tami Erwin, Verizon Wireless West Area president, said, "Recycling old phones and accessories is an easy way people can directly help domestic violence survivors in our communities.  Through HopeLine, phones that can be refurbished are given to domestic violence agencies with free minutes for survivors to use."

Verizon, through HopeLine from Verizon, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence have teamed up for a cross-country bus tour, Journey of Hope, to collect and share the stories of people affected by domestic violence and those who are passionate about ending it. Participants on the tour - which stopped in eight cities across the country, including Los Angeles and San Francisco - shared their stories of hope and perseverance, uniting and inspiring the public to play an active role in ending domestic violence.

In addition, Verizon Wireless offered several interactive ways for consumers to take a stand against domestic violence during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Customers were able to join the Text to Donate campaign by texting "HOPE" to 41010 to make a one-time, $10 donation to NNEDV, the largest network of state domestic violence coalitions in the nation. Donations will support NNEDV's awareness and prevention efforts and provide domestic violence victims with necessary resources and information. Verizon waived text messaging fees, and 100 percent of each $10 donation will go to NNEDV. The $10 donation will appear on customers' next regular monthly bill as a part of the text-to-donate campaign.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. Verizon has invested more than $28 million in domestic violence prevention.  For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

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 consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 107 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $106.6 billion in 2010 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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