Verizon Wireless Donates 300 Wireless Phones and Free Service to the Domestic Violence Unit of the City Attorney's Office

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SAN DIEGO, CA — City Attorney Casey Gwinn today announced that Verizon Wireless, the Official Wireless Partner for the City of San Diego, is donating an additional 300 wireless phones to the Domestic Violence Unit of the City Attorney's Office and free service to San Diego's Domestic Violence Hotline. The donation, which will be used to help fight domestic violence in San Diego, is a part of the San Diego Domestic Violence Prevention Partnership; a cooperative effort launched last February between Mayor Dick Murphy, City Attorney Casey Gwinn, the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, Verizon Wireless and other partners.

The pre-programmed phones will be given to participants of the City Attorney's domestic violence prevention program, who are victims of domestic violence. In an emergency, pressing one button on the phone will connect the user with the nearest law enforcement agency dispatcher, who can quickly assess the situation and send help. The single touch of another button connects the program participant directly to the San Diego Domestic Violence Council's toll-free Domestic Violence Information and Referral Hotline: 1-888-305-SAFE (7233).

City Attorney Gwinn says, "It is wonderful to see businesses, like Verizon Wireless, getting involved with issues facing our community, especially domestic violence. We all play an important role in the fight against domestic violence. While a cell phone may not deter a perpetrator obsessed with destruction, it may save a victim's life by giving her the ability to call for help when she needs it."

Last February, Verizon Wireless, Mayor Dick Murphy, City Attorney Casey Gwinn, the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, and other partners jointly announced the San Diego Domestic Violence Prevention Partnership - a cooperative effort aimed at reducing domestic violence in San Diego and across the country.

The partnership is a comprehensive campaign, which began with awareness and outreach to local businesses, a phone collection drive and a donation of 100 digital wireless phones and free service to the Domestic Violence Unit of the City Attorney's Office. The unit has acted as a central point of contact for distribution of these phones directly to victims or to domestic violence prevention agencies throughout San Diego.

"Verizon Wireless is proud to be part of the San Diego Domestic Violence Prevention Partnership, and grateful that our technology can, and does, help link victims directly to life-saving emergency assistance," said Verizon Wireless Regional President Greg Klimek. " Knowing that help is just a call away provides victims the freedom to leave their homes and the ability to make a call for help whether they are on the street, in a store or picking up the kids. That's why we are pleased to further our commitment to the San Diego Domestic Violence Prevention Partnership with an additional donation of 300 wireless phones and free service to the City Attorney's Domestic Violence Unit." More information about domestic violence, upcoming events, and training can be obtained by calling the San Diego Domestic Violence Council at (619) 533-6245 or visiting its website at www.sandiegodvcouncil.org.

Facts About

The City of San Diego works diligently to help victims of domestic violence and maintains aggressive domestic violence units in both the City Attorney's Office and the Police Department. According to City Attorney Gwinn, the new partnership is yet another way the City can expand its effort to protect victims of domestic violence and reduce this crime in the future. More information about the City's two domestic violence units can be found on the City's web site at www.ci.san-diego.ca.us.

The San Diego Domestic Violence Council was established in 1989 by a countywide network of battered women's programs, criminal justice agencies, and other organizations and individuals that share the common goal of ending violence against women and children in the City and County of San Diego. Members of the council have offered to help local businesses by providing training and information about local resources and upcoming events. For more information about the council, visit its web site at www.sandiegodvcouncil.org.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 28.7 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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