National Coalition Of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) Receives $25,000 HopeLine Grant From Verizon Wireless

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless today announced that the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) will receive a $25,000 HopeLine grant to aid NCAVP in its mission to increase access and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected (LGBTQH) survivors of intimate partner violence, also known as IPV. The donation is part of the HopeLine® from Verizon program, which is dedicated to assisting communities, shelters and agencies in ending domestic violence.

A 2010 study by NCAVP found that incidents of IPV are on the rise in the LGBTQH community. Between 2009 and 2010, the number of reported incidents increased by 38.1 percent. According to the study, the majority of mainstream victim service programs in the United States are not currently equipped to serve the LGBTQH community, but if made available, 80 percent of the organizations would engage in training to provide resources and support to these LGBTQH survivors of IPV.

The HopeLine from Verizon grant will help NCAVP fund educational programs and webinars, and provide training and technical assistance (TTA) and resources to mainstream domestic violence organizations nationally. By providing training and resources, Verizon Wireless and NCAVP will prepare organizations to meet the needs of the LGBTQH IPV survivors, from information about cultural context to crisis intervention strategies.

“Through our HopeLine program, we’ve seen first-hand how important it is for victims and survivors of intimate partner violence to have access to resources and support,” said Elva Lima, executive director of community relations and multicultural communications at Verizon Wireless. “We are proud to partner with NCAVP and support their efforts to train organizations across the country to meet the needs of intimate partner violence victims and survivors.”

NCAVP is a national coalition of local members, affiliate organizations and individuals who are dedicated to raising awareness about violence in the LGBTQH community and working to eliminate it. Through counseling, advocacy and public education, NCAVP works to change laws, policies and public opinion about the LGBTQH community and keep them safe from all forms of violence.

“We are very grateful to receive this donation from Verizon Wireless, and for their ongoing dedication to preventing intimate partner violence in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected community,” said Sharon Stapel, executive director, New York City Anti-Violence Programs. “There is a critical need for organizations to have LGBTQH-specific competency and the HopeLine grant from Verizon Wireless will help us take a step toward making that a reality.”

HopeLine from Verizon puts the nation’s most reliable wireless network to work in the community by turning no-longer-used wireless phones into support for victims and survivors of domestic violence. Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to provide wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence, and cash grants to local shelters and nonprofit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention. For more information on HopeLine from Verizon, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline. To learn more about NCAVP, visit http://www.avp.org/ncavp.htm.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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.

About NCAVP
NCAVP works to prevent, respond to and end all forms of violence against and within lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-affected (LGBTQH) communities. NCAVP is a national coalition of local member programs, affiliate organizations and individuals who create systemic and social change. We strive to increase power, safety and resources through data analysis, policy advocacy, education and technical assistance. NCAVP is coordinated by the New York City Anti-Violence Project.

####