Verizon Wireless Awards Grant In Southeast Missouri To Support Domestic Violence Victims

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO — Verizon Wireless recently awarded a $2,000 HopeLine® grant to Safe House for Women, a southeast Missouri-based organization that offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing, counseling and advocacy services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The funds were applied to the organization’s children’s program and childcare services.

“Imagine how a child caught in the whirlwind of domestic violence might try to make sense of their world,” said Lou Sigillo, president – Kansas/Missouri region, Verizon Wireless. “Verizon Wireless makes it a priority to support organizations like Safe House for Women because they work so tirelessly to not only give victims – even the tiniest victims – of domestic violence the assistance they need to become survivors but also to build community awareness of this issue so we may one day live in a safer, gentler society.”

Specifically, Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine grant will enable Safe House for Women to purchase supplies for their children’s program, which includes everything from age-appropriate educational materials to school supplies, and to also purchase supplies for its children’s support-group and school-based violence-prevention program. The funds also will help offset the cost of a newly established childcare program at the agency’s shelter and outreach office.

“On behalf of the women and children we serve, I’d like to express our appreciation for the support we have received from Verizon Wireless,” said Linda Garner, executive director for Safe House for Women. “Their generosity this year has made it possible for us to improve the services we provide to children and youth who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence. HopeLine funds, such as this grant, have enabled us to provide much needed childcare services and program supplies, and for that we are sincerely grateful.”

The grant to Safe House for Women was made possible by Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program, which turns no-longer-used wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence. Wireless phones, batteries and other accessories are collected, regardless of wireless service provider, at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide and in special collections throughout the year. The phones are either refurbished for reuse or recycled in an environmentally sound way.

Since October 2001, when Verizon Wireless launched its national recycling program, HopeLine has collected more than 5.3 million phones and awarded more than $5.6 million in cash grants to domestic violence organizations throughout the country.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 70.8 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 71,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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.

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