Luncheon To Focus on Long-Term Effects Of Domestic Violence on Children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE, WI — Civic and business leaders from throughout Milwaukee will get a close look at the lifelong effects of domestic violence on children at the third annual Honor Thy Children luncheon to be held Friday, April 30, at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., in downtown Milwaukee.

Sponsored by Verizon Wireless and hosted by the Milwaukee-area Task Force on Family Violence, the event will feature guest speaker Betsy McAlister Groves, a national expert on domestic violence and children. Groves is the founding director of the Child Witness to Violence Project at the Boston Medical Center, and an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Boston University School of Medicine. The author of the book, "Children Who See Too Much," Groves has also been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Pediatrics, and the Harvard Mental Health Letter.

In her presentation, Groves will discuss the nature of family violence, the extent to which children are victimized, and how these traumatic events adversely affect child development.

"More than 3.3 million children in the United States are victims of abuse each year," said Carmen Pitre, executive director of the Milwaukee-area Task Force on Family Violence "Millions more witness abuse in their homes, and the emotional scars on children who hear and see this abuse are long-lasting."

"All too often, children are the unheard victims of domestic violence, and that's why it is important for added community involvement," said Tracy Nolan, region president for Verizon Wireless, which has sponsored the annual Honor Thy Children event since its inception in 2002. "The services and initiatives taken by the Task Force have and will continue to make a difference in heightening awareness of this disturbing problem and in countering it."

Recognizing the pervasiveness of domestic violence and partner abuse in the home and workplace, Verizon Wireless has long been committed to promoting prevention and awareness programs, and helping survivors in the life-rebuilding process. Through its award-winning HopeLine^SM program, the company recycles, refurbishes, and/or sells donated phones, and contributes those proceeds to domestic violence advocacy groups. In 2003, the company collected more than 900,000 wireless phones for recycling, and contributed $3.7 million in monetary and other donations to domestic violence shelters and other advocacy organizations nationwide.

Tickets for the Honor Thy Children luncheon can be purchased by contacting the Task Force on Family Violence at 414-276-1911. Individual seats are $45 and corporate tables are $400. Circle of Hope donors of $100 or more will be recognized in the organization's Annual Report.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 37.5 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless 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 receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.

####