Verizon Wireless, Task Force Host Event to Focus on “Youngest Victims” of Domestic Violence

MILWAUKEE, WI — The devastating impact of family violence on children will be the focal point of the Honor Thy Children luncheon presented, for the second straight year, by the Task Force on Family Violence and Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless service provider. The community luncheon will be held Friday, April 4 at the Italian Community Center, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Milwaukee native John McGivern, currently starring in Shear Madness, will serve as the featured speaker. The event will also include performances by the Pius XI High School Choir and will feature an art display by students in the Wauwatosa School District.

Proceeds from the event will be used to support child advocacy programs for the Task Force. The event is also designed to build public awareness on this community-wide issue, noted Carmen Pitre, executive director for the Task Force on Family Violence. She explained that more than 3.3 million children in the United States are victims of abuse each year and millions more are witnesses of abuse in their homes.

Verizon Wireless' sponsorship of the April 4 event extends its financial support of domestic violence awareness and prevention initiatives throughout the state and country. In the past two years, the company has donated nationwide, through its signature HopeLine^SM program, more than $1 million to domestic violence programs and more than 10,000 wireless phones. This includes the donation of hundreds of emergency phones for Wisconsin domestic violence victims as well as administrative wireless phones to facilitate the work performed by local domestic violence prevention advocates.

Verizon Wireless has also produced and distributed public service announcements in Wisconsin on domestic violence awareness and prevention and, in the past year, hosted a luncheon/seminar for Milwaukee-area business leaders, focusing on the impact of domestic violence in the workplace and the steps to confront and correct it.

"We recognize the importance of the domestic violence issue and the initiatives of the Task Force on Family Violence to serve the victims and spread the word about the issue," said Tracy Nolan, president, Wisconsin/Illinois Region. "When it comes to fighting domestic violence, we can all play a part. We at Verizon Wireless are committed to having an impact and making a difference and encourage others to follow our lead."

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 $40 and corporate tables are $1,000.

The inaugural Honor the Children luncheon attracted more than 350 persons and helped raise in excess of $20,000 for the Task Force on Family Violence. The Milwaukee-based organization provides advocacy, education and access to services to empower people to lead a life free of violence.

About HopeLine
Verizon Wireless encourages wireless users to donate their old, unused wireless phones to its exclusive HopeLine phone recycling program. The national HopeLine program distributes previously owned wireless phones to victims of domestic violence, supports non-profit domestic violence advocacy groups and provides an environmentally safe method for recycling phones. Donations are accepted at all 1,200-plus Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For additional information, customers may also visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

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 32.5 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. 

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