Task Force On Family Violence And Verizon Wireless Host Event To Address Impact Of Domestic Violence On Children

MILWAUKEE, WI — The physical and emotional scars of domestic violence on children will receive special attention Friday, October 4, 2002, as the Task Force on Family Violence and Verizon Wireless host "Honor Thy Children," a luncheon benefit supporting the Task Force's Children and Adult programs.

Best-selling author Jacquelyn Mitchard will serve as the featured speaker and will participate in a book-signing session. Also featured in the program will be performances by Maria Bartolotta and Billy Kirchen. Guests at the luncheon will have the opportunity to purchase more than 200 pieces of art, which were developed and donated by students at Wauwatosa East High School.

The October 4 luncheon will begin with a reception at 11:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago Street in Milwaukee.

Reservations for the event may be made by contacting the Task Force on Family Violence at 414-276-1911. Individual tickets are $40. Corporate tables are available at $1,000.

"The luncheon is the first of its kind hosted by our organization," said Carmen Pitre, executive director of the Task Force on Family Violence. "We hope to make the benefit luncheon an annual event during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month."

The sponsorship by Verizon Wireless is an extension of the company's ongoing commitment to raise awareness and reduce instances of domestic violence. Since 2000, the company has supported the issue with posters, public service announcements and awareness-raising programs with the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks. This summer the company conducted a seminar and luncheon for area businesses, which focused on the impact of domestic violence on the workplace.

"We are appreciative of Verizon Wireless' sponsorship and ongoing support of domestic violence prevention and are excited and thrilled to have someone of Jacquelyn Mitchard's renown to serve as featured speaker," Pitre said.

Mitchard's first novel, The Deep End Of The Ocean, topped the New York Times chart of best selling novels and was chosen as the first book for Oprah Winfrey's Book Club. A film version of the novel, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Whoopi Goldberg, was released in March 1999.

Since gaining international acclaim with The Deep End Of The Ocean, Mitchard has published two additional novels. The Most Wanted was published by Viking in May 1998. A Theory Of Relativity was published by Harper Collins in July 2001 and is now in development for a motion picture.

A fourth novel, Twelve Times Blessed, will be published in 2003 by Harper Collins.

Mitchard also has served as a columnist and author of essays and screenplays. She currently lives near Madison, Wis. with her husband and their six children.

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 30.3 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.

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