Verizon Contributes $25,000 To Safe Call Now; Urging Confidential Treatment For Substance Abuse, Domestic Violence, Mental Health Issues Among Law Enforcement In Washington

BELLEVUE, WA — The Verizon Foundation and Verizon Wireless will present a $25,000 contribution to Safe Call Now, a new organization devoted to helping law enforcement and other public safety workers and their family members acknowledge personal problems and receive assistance without losing their job. Police officers, firefighters and other public safety officers often suffer personal problems caused by the tragedy they see on the job, leading to increased substance abuse, domestic violence and suicide rates. Employee Assistance Programs are under-utilized, as many officers fear admission of an alcohol or drug problem will cost them their livelihood.

Safe Call Now is a non-governmental organization providing a 24-hour hotline offering confidential referrals for treatment, to solve personal problems before they become a public crisis. Safe Call Now refers clients to resources helping them overcome addictions, marital and family issues, depression, suicide, financial problems and more. Barely one year old, the organization enjoys broad support within law enforcement, and succeeded in passing a new state law that raises confidentiality standards for crisis referrals and requires personal crisis training for public safety officers.

Safe Call Now Founder and Executive Director Sean Riley is a former Kirkland Police Officer who battled substance abuse during his years on the force and now leads a growing nationwide movement to save the lives of those who protect us all. Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation believe Safe Call Now is a model organization that addresses a growing problem at a critical time.

WHAT:
Safe Call Now to receive $25,000 donation from Verizon

WHO:

• Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna
• Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA 8th Dist)
• Lt. Governor Brad Owen (D-WA)
• State Senator Adam Kline (D-Seattle 37th District)
• Sean Riley, Founder & Executive Director, Safe Call Now
• Kelvin Crenshaw, SAC, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms
• Joe Hawe, Executive Director, Criminal Justice Training Commission
• Renee Maher, Executive Director, Coalition of Metropolitan Police & Sheriffs
• Joyce Buck, Verizon Wireless, Director of Business Sales
• Milt Doumit, Verizon Foundation Director, State Government Relations

WHEN:
10:30 am; Tuesday, October 12th

WHERE:
Memorial Garden
Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center
19010 1st Ave. South
Burien, WA 98148

The Verizon Foundation has awarded more than $800,000 in grants in the state of Washington since 2008. Together with the HopeLine from Verizon program, Verizon has issued more than $200,000 in grants to Washington domestic violence organizations since 2008.

Safe Call Now Board members include Washington Lt Governor Brad Owen; Snohomish County Sheriff John Lovick; Federal Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms Special Agent Kelvin Crenshaw; Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission Executive Director John Hawe, Washington Council of Fire Fighters President Kelly Fox; retired Department of Social & Health Services Director of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Doug Allen; Washington Department of Corrections Assistant Secretary Scott Blonien; Port of Seattle Police Chief Colleen Wilson and former Kent Police Officer and Trendwest CEO Bill Peare. Former Seattle Police Chief and current Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske, is a former Safe Call Now board member.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving nearly 93 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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