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INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Survivors of domestic violence will benefit from a 16-week training course at The Julian Center designed to help families transition out of poverty and connect with long-term community supporters thanks in part to a grant from the Verizon Foundation.
The $9,935 contribution will help the Indianapolis-based nonprofit fulfill the requirements of a course that will help participants “evaluate their lives, learn unwritten cultural rules regarding employment and financial prosperity, and develop and sustain the life skills necessary to survive and flourish in society.”
Upon completion, individuals will have the opportunity to be matched with volunteers from the community into a Circle of Support. The volunteer allies will have completed training in Bridges out of Poverty, a curriculum based on the work of educator Ruby Payne, which educates members of the middle class in understanding the cultural and economic dynamics that make the transition out of poverty so difficult.
“The connection to community creates a Circle of Support, which is critical to helping survivors of abuse apply what they’ve learned and stay on course to become self reliant,” said Betsy Whaley, director of housing and outreach programs for The Julian Center. “Circle leaders and allies receive ongoing coaching and support through participation in weekly meetings geared toward fostering community and supporting participants.”
The Julian Center offers a broad range of services to women and children who are victims of abuse and assault including counseling, safe shelter, transitional and permanent housing, and education. Last year, The Julian Center provided 27,090 nights of service to domestic violence victims – more than any other year in its history. Between the emergency shelter, counseling center, outreach services and transitional housing, The Julian Center touched the lives of 4,000 domestic violence victims in Central Indiana. The increased emphasis on promoting self-sufficiency reflects The Julian Center’s commitment to move beyond emergency services and crisis intervention and to help survivors of domestic abuse end the cycle of violence permanently.
“Verizon recognizes the success of innovative organizations like The Julian Center as our foundation supports programs that provide education, advocacy and support to help Hoosier families break free of the dangerous cycle of violence,” said Neil Krevda, Indiana director of governmental affairs for Verizon Communications.
The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, Inc. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than $450 million in the United States and around the world to help others, including local grants to Indiana nonprofits. Verizon employees and retirees have also given more than 3 million volunteer hours to their communities.
About The Julian Center
The Julian Center is a unique nonprofit agency providing counseling, safe shelter, case management, advocacy, and education for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other life crises in Central Indiana. Through outreach and consultation, we also seek to educate the community about the issue of domestic violence and sexual assault and its impact on all our lives. Our programs and services are designed to contribute to a significant reduction in the incidence of domestic violence and sexual assault, to support survivors in healing, and to help break the intergenerational cycle of abuse. For more information about the Julian Center, visit www.juliancenter.org.
About Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence. In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $67.5 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26.1 million in combined contributions to nonprofits. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation’s largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org. 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 more than 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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