Verizon Donates $10,000 To YWCA Of Evansville Youngest Victims Of Domestic Abuse To Benefit

EVANSVILLE, IN — Verizon is donating $10,000 to the YWCA of Evansville to fund an awareness campaign that will target the area’s most vulnerable teens for Domestic Violence Awareness month in October.

The longtime partners who represent a successful corporate and nonprofit collaboration are stepping up to ensure that children and teens have a safe haven in Vanderburgh and Warrick counties and will learn more about dating violence issues that can have a devastating impact on teenage girls.

The commitment is part of an ongoing partnership that started with funding a shelter library at the YWCA last year – which is now open and supplied with books donated by Verizon Wireless and Wireless Zone employees.

“With one in three high school students involved in an abusive relationship, we will be providing training to middle school and high school students about preventing patterns of dating violence that often last into adulthood,” said Erika Taylor, CEO of the YWCA of Evansville.

Thanks to Verizon funding, the YWCA will also continue its “Chalk it Up to Awareness” program when community groups, businesses and schools chalk messages on heavily trafficked sidewalks around the community. Hundreds of students will be recruited to participate and share messages and statistics that will make the issue even more visible.

“Our partnership with the YWCA is one that engages the community and educates our youth,” said Michelle Gilbert, PR manager for Verizon Wireless in Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. “Through the Verizon Foundation and other successful programs such as HopeLine,^®  we’re able to extend our community grants in creative ways to keep this issue top of mind.”

HopeLine from Verizon collects no-longer-used phones, batteries and accessories – in any condition from any carrier – and then refurbishes, sells or recycles the phones and donates the proceeds to domestic violence organizations throughout the country and in Indiana. Proceeds benefit victims of domestic violence through cash grants.

Verizon Wireless previously partnered to fund the new shelter library at the YWCA with the Jewish Women International (JWI) in 2011. Through a HopeLine grant, Verizon Wireless donated $10,000 to fund JWI’s children’s library at the YWCA, which is one of 42 shelter libraries established in the nation through JWI.

JWI’s National Library Initiative, in partnership with volunteers, businesses and corporations, is working to establish 100 children’s libraries in domestic violence shelters across the United States. Each library provides a chance for children enduring difficult circumstances to continue to learn and grow.

Verizon is recognized nationally for its support of domestic violence awareness and prevention initiatives along with literacy programs.

Last year in Indiana, Hoosier nonprofits received more than $200,000 in cash grants from HopeLine and the Verizon Foundation. Hoosier shelters received phones with more than 2.7 million minutes of donated air time for shelter residents. In 2011, Hoosiers also donated 18,478 no-longer-used wireless phones to help fund HopeLine grants for Indiana nonprofits.

For more information on how to make donations of gently used and age-appropriate books to the YWCA, please contact Lindsey Hartz at 812-422-1191.

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About the YWCA of Evansville
The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.  The YWCA has been serving the Evansville area since 1911 and from its inception has provided housing and services for women and girls. The Evansville YWCA is a member of the YWCA of the U.S.A., the oldest and largest women's membership movement in the country. Over the years, YWCA programs have changed to meet the evolving needs of women and girls. In 1979, the YWCA opened the first domestic violence shelter in Evansville.  Other current programs include a Transition Housing Program for women in recovery, Emergency Shelter for homeless women and children, an after-school and mentoring program, called Live Y'ers, for at-risk girls in grades three through 12, Summer Fun day camp for school-aged children, and a Food Pantry station.  Special programs and events for the general public are also offered.  Visit www.ywcaevansville.org for more information.

About Jewish Women International
Jewish Women International is the leading Jewish organization empowering women and girls through economic literacy, community training, healthy relationships education, and the proliferation of women’s leadership. Our innovative programs, advocacy, and philanthropic initiatives protect the fundamental rights of all girls and women to live in safe homes, thrive in healthy relationships, and realize the full potential of their personal strength. For more information, please visit www.jwi.org or contact us at 800-343-2823.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 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.

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