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Seven Delaware Nonprofits Receive More Than $85,000 From the Verizon Foundation and Verizon Wireless


WEBWIRE

DOVER, Del. - In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, seven Delaware nonprofit organizations will receive more than $85,000 from the Verizon Foundation - the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications - and Verizon Wireless to further efforts to provide educational and new domestic violence prevention programs.

Grant recipients were announced today at the annual meeting of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Verizon Delaware and Verizon Wireless are sponsors of this year’s breakfast meeting. Winners and their specific grant-funded programs are:

Child Inc. - In the Best Interest of the Child, a conference for children and youth that witness domestic violence.


Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence - statewide expansion of the Training for Change initiative that provides training and technical assistance to agencies that respond to and prevent domestic violence, and funding for a PSA campaign, created by teens for teens through the Messages From Teens Project.


Delaware Technical & Community College Educational Foundation - continued funding for Verizon Rising Step Scholarship program for disadvantaged women, and for domestic violence awareness.


Latin American Community Center - continued funding for the Families in Control program to prevent domestic violence.


People’s Place - funding for its Group Homes Program, which will help youth who have been affected by domestic violence.


VSA Arts of Delaware - continued funding for A View Through My Window, an expressive art project designed for victims and survivors of domestic violence - both children and adults.


YWCA Delaware - additional funding for domestic violence services.
“Domestic violence is a serious issue in our country,” said Verizon Delaware President William Allan. “Verizon cares deeply about the communities we serve. The goal of our grant program is to continue to raise awareness, educate people about the causes and effects of domestic violence, and help our communities in the First State address and prevent domestic violence situations.”

Verizon Wireless, a recognized corporate leader in the fight against domestic violence, is providing grants through its HopeLine® phone recycling program, where no-longer-needed wireless phones and accessories from any wireless provider are collected and refurbished or recycled in an environmentally friendly way. Proceeds from the HopeLine program benefit domestic violence survivors and nonprofit advocacy agencies by providing them essential communication tools - wireless phones and services - and financial grants.

Since 2001, HopeLine has awarded nearly $4 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies throughout the country and collected more than 4 million wireless phones.

“In times of danger, domestic violence victims need access to resources that will provide assistance and are easily accessible and secure,” said Christine Baron, president of Verizon Wireless’ Philadelphia Tri-State region.

“That’s the focus of our HopeLine program - to provide cell phones in emergency situations, but also to provide much-needed funding so organizations can continue making a positive impact in the community,” Baron added. “We certainly applaud the work that outstanding Delaware organizations perform each day in the areas of domestic violence education and prevention.”

About the Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, is committed to improving literacy and K-12 education; fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence; and promoting the use of technology in health-care delivery. In 2006, the foundation awarded more than $69 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched charitable donations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $29 million in combined contributions. Under the foundation’s Verizon Volunteer initiative, one of the nation’s largest employee-volunteer programs, company employees and retirees also have contributed nearly 3 million hours of community service since Verizon’s inception in 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

About Verizon Communications Inc.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a New York-based Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving more than 62 million customers nationwide. Verizon’s wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 62.1 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 67,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.



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