Verizon Aids Domestic Violence Survivors In Saginaw Underground Railroad Receives $9,500 Grant

SAGINAW, MI — The Verizon Foundation has donated $9,500 to the Underground Railroad, Inc., a provider of crisis services for survivors of domestic violence in Saginaw County.

The grant demonstrates Verizon’s ongoing commitments to raise awareness of domestic violence and provide direct support to survivors and their families.

“Verizon is committed to the communities where our customers and employees live and work,” said John Granby, president–Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. “Our company is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors across Michigan and the country by supporting organizations which provide relief and resources for families.”

The Underground Railroad, Inc. provides shelter and counseling services for survivors of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. The nonprofit also offers leadership programs to end violence against women. The funds will be used for crisis counseling services.

“Statistics have shown that women who receive domestic violence services have a 60 percent greater chance of ending the abusive relationship than those who do not,” said Valerie Hoffman, executive director and chief executive officer of the Underground Railroad, Inc. “Verizon is helping us stop the cycle of violence and making a significant difference in our community, for which we are grateful.”

Verizon has a long history of supporting survivors of domestic violence and aiding in its prevention. The HopeLine® program from Verizon collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider. Verizon Wireless then provides wireless phones and airtime to nonprofit organizations for use by domestic violence survivors, as well as grants to local shelters and nonprofits that focus on prevention, awareness and advocacy.

Since its inception, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones and provided $10 million in grants nationwide. Phones that cannot be refurbished are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero-landfill policy.

In the past four years, the Verizon Foundation has awarded more than $21 million to nonprofit organizations that assist domestic violence survivors.

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About the Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation’s largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

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