Verizon Grants To Help 42 New England Domestic Violence Prevention Organizations Expand Programs

BOSTON, September 19, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Forty-two New England nonprofits received a boost for their domestic violence prevention efforts from the Verizon Foundation on Wednesday, September 18, 2013.

At a pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park, representatives from the Verizon Foundation presented leaders from the region’s six statewide domestic violence coalitions with $335,000 in grants to benefit local non-profit organizations that provide programs and support for domestic violence prevention. These grants will help educate teens about healthy relationships, increase training for first responders and medical professionals, and augment vital support services for survivors and their families.  

Additionally, the following coalition leaders threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch:

• Karen Jarmoc, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Wethersfield, Conn.
• Mary R. Lauby, Jane Doe Inc, Boston, Mass.
• Julia Colpitts, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Augusta, Maine
• Lyn Schollett, New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Concord, N.H.
• Deb DeBare, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Warwick, R.I.
• Chani Waterhouse, Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Montpelier, Vt.

“Verizon has a long history of using its technology and financial resources to invest in programs that help survivors of domestic violence rebuild their lives while raising awareness of the issue,” said Christine Berberich, New England Region President for Verizon Wireless. “The New England coalitions and their member nonprofits do critical work each day to prevent violence while advocating for the rights and safety of survivors. Verizon is proud to support their heroic efforts.”

The Verizon Foundation New England Domestic Violence Solutions Awards focus on programs that support the health and wellness of families affected by domestic violence; provide training to first responders/health care professionals to safely screen for domestic violence; engage men to take action to prevent domestic violence; educate teens on healthy relationships; and provide workforce development and entrepreneurship training for survivors.

For more than a decade, Verizon has been a champion of ending domestic violence through its various business units and its philanthropic foundation, investing more than $50 million in grants to domestic violence prevention organizations and shelters since 2000. Verizon supports a broad range of programs that include:

• Training healthcare practitioners and first responders about screening for signs of abuse;
• Engaging men as role models and advocates for prevention;
• Educating teens about preventing dating violence; and
• Allowing all Verizon Wireless customers to easily connect with domestic violence resources by dialing #4673 (#HOPE). 

Verizon became the first wireless carrier in the nation to collect and recycle no-longer-used cell phones. HopeLine® from Verizon puts the nation’s most reliable network to work in the community by turning no-longer used cell phones into support for domestic violence victims and survivors. The program recycles used cell phones, batteries and accessories, and uses the funds generated to donate phones, airtime and funding to domestic violence agencies. Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 10 million phones, properly disposed of 2.1 million no-longer-used wireless phones, and provided more than $18.1 million in cash grants to domestic violence organizations nationwide.

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About the Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation is focused on accelerating social change by using the company’s innovative technology to help solve pressing problems in education, healthcare and energy management. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live. Verizon’s employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.8 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information about Verizon’s philanthropic work, visit www.verizonfoundation.org; or for regular updates, visit the Foundation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/verizonfoundation) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/verizongiving).

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