State of Colorado Partners With Verizon Wireless in Fight Against Domestic Violence

DENVER, CO — Colorado Governor Bill Owens, Verizon Wireless, the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, today jointly announced a comprehensive, statewide Domestic Violence Prevention Partnership. This partnership, the first alliance of its kind in the state, includes the donation of 100 Motorola wireless phones through the CALL to PROTECT program, service from Verizon Wireless, a $5,000 grant, a phone recycling drive and a corporate awareness campaign.

"Domestic violence and spousal abuse are national problems," said Governor Owens. "This multi-pronged partnership provides a lifeline for victims of abuse and helps fund key educational initiatives throughout the state." One hundred pre-programmed digital wireless phones and a year of free airtime are being donated to CCADV, courtesy of Verizon Wireless, Motorola, and the CALL-to-PROTECT program, a national educational and philanthropic initiative. CCADV will distribute the phones to Colorado women's shelters and domestic violence prevention organizations.

"Since our initial partnership with the Governor and CCADV two years ago, Verizon Wireless has distributed close to 500 phones to domestic violence organizations throughout the state," said Marni Walden, Mountain Region president for Verizon Wireless. "We're proud to reconfirm our commitment to this effort with additional phones and funding for training and awareness programs."

Although wireless phones will not stop domestic violence, they can provide a victim with a sense of security and empowerment.

"Lives have been saved in Colorado since the initial distribution of these phones two years ago," said Rita Smith, executive director of the NCADV. "Abused women can use the phones to call for help with the push of a button. That can, and has, made the difference between continued abuse or security." Awareness and education can be the first step in stopping the cycle of domestic violence. To that end, Verizon Wireless has granted $5,000 to the CCADV to produce training materials for their Advocate Training Program, the only training program of its kind in the state. Funds will also be used to develop and print brochures for distribution in high schools and hospitals.

The Domestic Violence Awareness Partnership also provides for the Governor's Office and CCADV to travel throughout the state conducting a series of "town meetings" dedicated to raising awareness of domestic violence. The primary focus of these meetings is to determine the major issues facing victims of domestic violence, discuss potential solutions, develop new strategies for dealing with domestic violence and work toward building coalitions to solve these issues with other interest groups.

The Corporate Awareness Campaign features a letter from Governor Owens, a sample of Verizon Wireless sponsored domestic violence awareness posters, available for free, for distribution in the workplace and a fact sheet on domestic violence and workplace violence.

"Domestic violence lowers worker productivity, increases company health care costs and can erupt in workplace violence," said Governor Owens. "Providing this information to Colorado businesses makes the environment in our workplaces safer. Employees are more likely to ask for and receive help in an organization that is aware of domestic violence and the signs that someone may be a victim. In addition, displaying these posters in the workplace provides victims information about a national hotline to call for help."

In support of this partnership and recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month, Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in Colorado are collecting old, unused wireless phones throughout October. These phones will be recycled and sold with funds going directly to the Verizon Wireless HopeLine^SM program, enabling the company to service even more domestic violence shelters in the future. In Colorado, collection locations are:

About the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence

The Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence in a non-profit, statewide, membership driven organization whose mission is to eliminate domestic violence in all its forms through comprehensive coordination of services, training, technical assistance, community education, advocacy and funding. CCADV is dedicated to serving as a voice on behalf of abused individuals, their children and the shelters, crisis services and advocates who serve them.

About the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence represents a network of over 2,000 local programs and state coalitions serving battered women and their children. NCADV provides technical assistance, general information and referrals, community awareness campaigns, public policy advocacy at the federal level and sponsors a national conference every two years.

About Motorola

Motorola is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2000 were $37.6 billion. Motorola has donated 20,000 new wireless phones to shelters for use by victims of domestic abuse in the United States. For more information, visit the Motorola Web site at www.motorola.com.

About the Wireless Foundation

The Wireless Foundation initiates and oversees strategic corporate philanthropy programs utilizing wireless communications to make communities safer, families more secure and teachers more effective. For additional information on the Wireless Foundation, visit its Web site at www.wirelessfoundation.org.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 28 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.

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