Verizon Wireless Support for Domestic Violence Prevention in 12 Western States Tops $400,000

IRVINE, CA — Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless service provider, took domestic violence prevention to heart in October. The company, which has adopted this issue as its primary area of philanthropy, awarded more than $400,000 in grants to agencies addressing domestic violence in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, during National Domestic Violence Prevention Month.

In addition, the company supported the donation of more than 1200 phones to domestic violence agencies, distributed more than 700 posters to businesses to help raise awareness of the issue, and collected thousands of used phones to benefit victims of domestic violence.

"Violence in the home is an epidemic in our country, affecting millions of women, children and men each year," said Ken Muche, Community Relations manager, West Area, Verizon Wireless. "We want to make a difference. We're pleased to lend support to local agencies working to help curb domestic violence in our neighborhoods and workplaces and to encourage other companies to raise awareness of the problem."

Verizon Wireless announced partnerships in October with the states of Arizona and Colorado; the mayors of Honolulu, Kauai, Maui, San Francisco and Seattle; and the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women. Each partnership involved phone and airtime donations, grants for local domestic violence prevention agencies, Verizon Wireless-sponsored posters offered to businesses at no cost as a means of raising awareness, linking victims to help and a collection of used wireless phones.

The grants will support a wide variety of activities including GED education for women in shelters, play therapy for abused children, date rape outreach for teens, transition housing, counseling for abusers, and elderly abuse assistance.

The used phones, batteries and accessories, are recycled, refurbished or sold through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine^SM program. Proceeds are used to award grants or donate wireless phones to non-profit domestic violence prevention organizations to aid victims.

The HopeLine program was launched nationwide at the end of October and will continue year-round. Verizon Wireless Communications stores will accept used phones, batteries and accessories regardless where they were purchased and provide the donor with a contribution receipt for tax purposes.

Posters continue to be available to businesses at no cost by calling 949-286-8151.

Facts About Domestic Violence in the United States

Domestic violence is a serious problem in the United States. Studies show that:

• There are approximately 960,000 incidents of domestic violence each year (U.S. Department of Justice)
• More than 175,000 workdays are lost each year because of domestic violence (Society for Human Resource Management)
• American companies lose about $5 billion every year in increased medical costs associated with battered employees (National Victim Center)
• 17 to 20 percent of women killed in the workplace are murdered by spouses or boyfriends (U.S. Department of Labor studies)
• 31 percent of American women have been physically or sexually abused by a spouse or boyfriend during their lifetime (Commonwealth Fund)
• 50% of domestic violence victims who are working women miss three days of work per month as a result of the violence (Bureau of National Affairs)
• Partners and boyfriends commit more than 13,000 acts of violence against women in the workplace every year (United States Department of Justice)

Editor's Note

A state-by-state record of grants awarded, phones collected, and phones donated by Verizon Wireless in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, is available by contacting Andrew Colley at (949) 286-8194.

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 and GTE Wireless. 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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