Children Impacted By Domestic Violence To Benefit From Verizon Wireless Grant To Friendship Home in Nebraska

LINCOLN, NE — Verizon Wireless today announced it will donate $6,050 to Friendship Home, a domestic violence agency that provides 24-hour emergency shelter as well as transitional housing and programs for battered women and their children in the Lincoln area. The check presentation will take place on Friday, Oct. 24 at Friendship Home's board meeting at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 12 p.m.

The donation, made through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine® program, is based on a challenge issued on Earth Day (April 22) for Lincoln and Lancaster County residents to donate their no-longer-used wireless handsets and accessories to help domestic violence survivors and preserve the environment. A total of 1,210 phones were collected during the three-month drive — and Verizon Wireless pledged to provide a $5 donation for each handset collected for a total of $6,050.

Through the company's award-winning HopeLine program, Verizon Wireless collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider. Most of the donated phones and accessories are refurbished and sold with proceeds going to support domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. Any remaining phones are recycled in an environmentally sound way.

"Friendship Home is grateful to have had the opportunity to partner with Verizon Wireless on the HopeLine phone drive," said Amy Evans, executive director of Friendship Home. "The result of this recycling effort will be to provide vital funding for Friendship Home's Children in Shelter Program. We know that children in shelters are deserving of specialized services. The HopeLine donation means we can continue to fulfill our commitment to these often silent and overlooked victims of domestic violence."

Karen Opp, human resources manager at Verizon Wireless' Lincoln Customer Service Center, will present the check to Evans on Friday, Oct. 24 during a Friendship Home board meeting that will also be attended by Gary Herr, Lt. Gov., Division 22, Nebraska-Iowa District of Kiwanis International. Local Kiwanis volunteers were key to the success of the HopeLine phone drive and assisted with collecting equipment at designated drop-off locations.

The HopeLine donation will be used toward children's services and advocacy. Friendship Home's children's advocates specialize in recognizing the effects of domestic violence on children, teaching and modeling nonviolent ways of resolving conflict, and providing individual and group support for children based on their specific needs.

"Verizon Wireless has a long-standing commitment to help victims of domestic violence and their families," said Nancy B. Clark, president — Great Plains Region, Verizon Wireless. "We would like to thank all of the individuals who donated handsets during the Lincoln and Lancaster County drive to benefit Friendship Home."

HopeLine phone donations may be made year-round at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores. For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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.  

About Friendship Home
Formed in 1978, Friendship Home is Lincoln's specialized emergency and transitional shelter program for battered women and their children. For women in the community who are exploring the possibility of leaving violent homes, and for those who have left and are now homeless, Friendship Home offers a comprehensive array of services designed to address both domestic violence and homelessness. In 2007, Friendship Home served more than 1,400 women and children through its various programs and services. For crisis line services, a trained advocate is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at (402) 437-9302. Main number (402) 434-0167.

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