Verizon Wireless Donates $50K To The South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault

GREENVILLE, SC — Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Wireless, has awarded a Verizon Foundation grant of $50,000 to the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) to assist in the coalition's efforts to positively impact and create awareness of domestic violence in the Palmetto State. Verizon Wireless' grant will help SCCADVASA in the creation of a well-developed public awareness campaign aimed at producing positive social change through education, resource development, political action and training.

Verizon Wireless will present the $50,000 grant during SCCADVASA's Annual Meeting on February 9, 2005 from Noon-2:30 PM at Leaside Center in Columbia. Attorney General Henry McMaster will be the keynote speaker.

The SCCADVASA supports Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault member programs, provides education & advocates for social reform to eradicate interpersonal violence in South Carolina.

"South Carolina ranks 6th in the nation for numbers of domestic homicides so this is a tragic situation and clearly, public education is a critical need," said Vicki Bourus, Executive Director, SCCADVASA. "Domestic violence is one of the lesser talked about problems in South Carolina, but with Verizon Wireless behind us, we can really heighten awareness and get this issue the attention it deserves."

"Verizon Wireless has devoted our community service efforts to domestic violence because of the far-reaching impact of this problem that affects one out of three women and knows no social or economic boundaries," said Jerry Fountain, President of the Carolinas/Tennessee Region of Verizon Wireless. "Through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine^SM phone donation and recycling program, we provide support to victims of domestic violence and the people and agencies that seek to help them. Since 2001, more than 2 million phones have been collected."

As part of its HopeLine program, Verizon Wireless also makes financial grants and other donations of wireless phones, equipment and service to local, regional and national domestic violence organizations, and between January 2002 and June 2004, the company donated more than $5 million. For information about SCCADVASA, please contact Vicki Bourus at 803-256-2900.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data 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 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.

About The South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence
SCCADVASA is a statewide membership coalition formed in 1981 consisting of all Domestic Violence Shelters & Rape Crisis Centers in South Carolina to represent the critical needs of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. SCCADVASA is the leader in directing efforts to eradicate interpersonal violence in South Carolina. SCCADVASA advocates for positive social change through resource development, political action and providing state of the art training.

About HopeLine
2005 marks the 10 year anniversary of the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program, which puts wireless products and services to work to combat domestic violence. Today, HopeLine collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless carrier and refurbishes or recycles them with proceeds benefiting victims of domestic violence. The environmentally friendly HopeLine Program also provides victims with essential communication tools — wireless phones and wireless services, including voicemail and pre-paid wireless minutes. Donations are accepted at all 1,200-plus Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For additional information, customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

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