Verizon Wireless Donates $15,000 To The Life Skills Foundation

ST. LOUIS, MO — Verizon Wireless announced today a $15,000 Verizon Foundation grant that will go to the Life Skills Safe Foundation. The grant will support this year’s “Everyone Deserves a Shot” benefit for Life Skills. The event promotes the art of photography for people with developmental disabilities. The grant will also expand support for individuals who have become victims of domestic violence.

“Verizon Wireless is honored to work with The Life Skills Foundation as they strive to reduce domestic violence among the developmentally disabled,” said Brendan Fallis, president of the Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless. “Preparing the developmentally challenged for the responsibilities of life is an issue we are committed to helping. We also see incredible value in Life Skills using this grant to help prevent domestic abuse of the developmentally disabled.”

With this grant, The Life Skills Foundation will address domestic abuse among the developmentally disabled by:

• Better train staff members on how to recognize and address domestic violence and abuse
• Review domestic-violence curriculum for staff and further developing appropriate course materials, and
• Educate clients about their rights and maintaining their safety and health.

“Verizon’s generosity and commitment to this cause has been a tremendous help to members of this foundation, and families affected,” said Bill Eastman, vice president of development for The Life Skills Foundation. “Our partnership with Verizon will allow us to better address the issue of domestic abuse.”

As a member of the St. Louis region's Safe Circle Coalition, Life Skills collaborates on the prevention of domestic violence among people with developmental disabilities. The 20-member coalition was developed in April of 2010 by Christina Meneses, program specialist with the YWCA Saint Louis Regional Sexual Assault Center. Its members focus on developing internal policies and procedures for preventing, reporting and responding to any abuse situations.

“Though all of the participating Safe Circle Coalition organizations recognize the high rate of violence committed against people with developmental disabilities, none has established formal internal policies to respond to these issues,” furthered Eastman. “With the help of the Verizon Foundation, this coalition can now improve its collective ability to take action on domestic abuse.”

About Life Skills Foundation
Life Skills began in 1964 with a handful of parents of children with developmental disabilities who dreamed of an accepting community, greater independence and a bright future for their loved ones. Today, Life Skills is working to realize that dream. Not only are our clients changed by their experiences, but communities are enriched and the values, beliefs and lives of those they touch are transformed. For more information, visit www.lifeskills-stl.org.

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About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit http://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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