Verizon Wireless Donates $5000 to Haven House in Honor of HopeLine Award Recipients

BUFFALO, NY — Verizon Wireless recently donated $5,000 to Haven House, a Buffalo-area shelter for victims of domestic violence. The donation was granted on behalf of Kate Joyce of Lewiston, NY, director of Haven House and Kelly Clifford of West Seneca, NY, coordinator of residential services for Haven House, who were both recipients of the second annual Verizon Wireless HopeLine^SM Award. The HopeLine Award recognizes individuals whose efforts to fight domestic violence have made a difference in our community.

"Through the commitment of people like Kate Joyce and Kelly Clifford, and agencies such as Haven House, precious lives can be saved and abuse prevented," said John Palmer, president of the company's Upstate New York Region. "Verizon Wireless is proud to honor Ms. Joyce and Ms. Clifford, and to assist Haven House in its service to victims of domestic violence in the Buffalo area."

Ms. Joyce was nominated for her contributions in the fight against domestic violence through her work as director of Child and Family Services Haven House in Erie County. Ms. Joyce has been battling domestic violence since 1982. She founded the Erie County Family Court Project in 1992, through which a domestic violence office at the Family Court was established, helping thousands of women seeking orders of protection, comfort and support. Recently, a new state-of-the-art shelter was built in Erie County with funds obtained by the hard work and dedication of Ms. Joyce. She has also found time to raise awareness of domestic violence by organizing "The Bridge Walk" to promote the domestic violence movement in both the U.S. and Canada.

Ms. Clifford has dedicated her life's work to the fight against domestic violence. Responsible for the start of family court advocacy in Western New York and with great knowledge of the legal system, Ms. Clifford has personally stood beside and supported victims through the difficult legal process. She has expanded the programs at Haven House to provide not only a safe haven, but also a place for healing and change.

The HopeLine program distributes previously owned wireless phones to victims of domestic violence, supports non-profit domestic violence advocacy groups, and provides an environmentally friendly method for recycling phones. No longer used phones are collected, and either recycled or sold for parts, with wireless phones and/or monetary donations benefiting domestic violence agencies and victims. Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than two million wireless phones to benefit domestic violence victims.

For more information on the HopeLine program, please visit www.verizonwireless.com.  

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 40 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. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com.  

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