It's Time to Tell: Domestic Violence Survivors Speak Out

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, a recognized corporate leader for its commitment to preventing domestic violence and raising awareness of the issue, has teamed up with survivors and advocates in Alabama on an initiative aimed at educating the public about domestic abuse through the sharing of first-person survivor stories. The program, dubbed "It's Time to Tell," launched on October 1, the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

"It's Time to Tell" features the stories of three Alabamians—survivor Tahiera Monique Brown, survivor/advocate JB Ward and advocate Carol Gundlach, Executive Director of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence—as told in their own words.  More information is available at ItsTimeToTell.com, where visitors can easily view and share video testimonials from Brown, Ward and Gundlach with their colleagues, friends and loved ones.   Additional information— including eye-opening facts and statistics about domestic violence, resources for getting help for those in abusive relationships and information about Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program, which collects no-longer used wireless phones, batteries and accessories from any wireless service provider and turns these unused devices into grants for domestic violence awareness and prevention organizations and support for survivors— is also accessible on the site.

"Awareness leads to prevention, and nothing is more powerful in that regard than hearing from survivors in their own words," said Jeff Mango, president - Georgia/Alabama Region of Verizon Wireless. "Verizon Wireless is extremely thankful for the willingness of those we're working with on this initiative to share their very personal stories with the hope that they might help others to recognize abuse and end abusive relationships."

The Alabama program was inspired by the debut of "Telling Amy's Story," a public service media project from Penn State Public Broadcasting and Verizon Wireless, which debuted June 1. The documentary follows the timeline of a domestic violence homicide that occurred on November 8, 2001. The victim's parents and co-workers, law enforcement officers and court personnel share their perspectives on what happened to Amy in the weeks, months and years leading up to her death. While the end of Amy's story cannot be changed, the goal of the documentary is to change outcomes for the millions of victims, survivors and loved one affected by domestic violence every day. Find more about the documentary at ItsTimeToTell.com.

"It's Time to Tell" sets out not only to share the stories of the featured partners but also to encourage those who are in abusive relationships to reach out to someone who can help. Experts report that the large majority of victims of domestic abuse do not report the crime to the police. One way to reach an advocate is by calling #HOPE from any Verizon Wireless phone, by calling the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or by calling Alabama's Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-650-6522.

"I would say, trust your instincts, trust other people, seek out your local shelter, let them advise you, trust the advice they give you," said survivor Tahiera Monique Brown, who shares her story at ItsTimeToTell.com. "Being a victim is not an option. Living in fear is not an option. Being free is an option."

Brown, along with advocate Carol Gundlach of the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence, pointed out that domestic violence happens in all communities and to all types of people, making this a universal issue.

"Rich, poor, black, white, immigrant populations. It doesn't care where you live or how much money you've got or what religion you are. We're all at risk," Gundlach said.

View the rest of their testimonials and more at ItsTimeToTell.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 92 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 79,000 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless