Domestic Violence Organizations In Washington State Receive $293,000 In HopeLine Grants, Phones And Minutes From Verizon Wireless

BELLEVUE, WA — Women in the State of Washington affected by domestic violence are benefitting from $293,000 in cash grants and free phones with airtime from Verizon Wireless. The funding, phones and minutes go to organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness. For survivors of domestic violence, a working phone can be a lifeline. During 2009, the Verizon Wireless HopeLine® program donated 763 phones (each with 3,000 pre-paid minutes) to shelters in the state. The value of the phone and airtime donations is $228,900. In addition, 17 Washington organizations received $65,000 in HopeLine grants:

• Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, Tacoma—Supports family therapist working with children
• Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, Everett—Supports domestic violence education/brochures in 7 languages
• Eastside Domestic Violence Program, Bellevue—Funding for 24 hour crisis phone line
• Emergency Support Center, Kelso—Funding for shelter training and instruction
• Family Support Center, Colville—Funding to train shelter volunteers
• Ferry County Connections, Republic—Supports therapy sessions for children
• King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Seattle—Funding for “Take Action Against DV” campaign event
• New Beginnings Shelter, Seattle—Purchase translation equipment and pay for interpreters to serve limited-English clients
• Our Sister’s House, Tacoma—Assistance for children ages 6-11 who have witnessed domestic violence between parents
• Providence Hospitality House, Seattle—Supports DV advocacy training for shelter workers
• Refugee Women’s Alliance, Seattle—Funding for DV support groups among Somali women
• Safe Place Shelter, Olympia—Assisting Asian and Latino clients at shelter
• Sojourner Place, Seattle—Provides life-skills training for survivors of domestic violence
• Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Seattle—Funding for media project to impact public opinion on who is to blame for domestic violence
• YWCA of Kitsap County, Bremerton—Pays for medicine, clothing for shelter residents
• YWCA Pierce County, Tacoma—Supports legal representation for victims of DV
• YWCA Spokane—Funds counseling and support group sessions for children at shelter

The grants are part of Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program, which puts wireless services and equipment to work to assist victims of domestic violence. HopeLine’s national phone recycling and reuse program collected more than 1 million wireless phones in 2009 and has collected nearly 6.7 million wireless phones since 2001, donating 90,000 phones with 300 million minutes of free wireless service for use by survivors.

“I encourage everyone to dig through their closets, ask friends and family members for their used cell phones and accessories, and donate them to HopeLine,” said Kelley Kurtzman, region president for Verizon Wireless. “A simple phone donation can make a lasting impact on the lives of domestic violence survvors right here in Washington.”

HopeLine wireless phone donations are accepted at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the nation. Verizon Wireless encourages everyone who plans to give a phone to HopeLine to make sure service on that device has been discontinued and to erase any personal data. Phones given to the HopeLine program are refurbished and resold for reuse, or disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

For more information on Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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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