'Let Your Heart Rule' - Break the Cycle and Verizon Wireless Partner to Raise Awareness on Teen Dating Violence

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Break the Cycle, the leading voice for teens on the issue of dating violence, and Verizon Wireless are asking high schoolers around the nation this month to  "Let Your Heart Rule," and take a heartfelt stand to increase awareness on teen dating violence.  HopeLine® from Verizon will be donating $50,000 to Break the Cycle to distribute Teen Dating Violence Month resources to schools nationwide.

"One in three teens will experience abuse in a dating relationship and more than two-thirds of them will never report it to anyone," said Marjorie Gilberg, executive director of Break the Cycle.  "We're honored to partner with Verizon Wireless to help empower and educate teens on this very important topic, and help put a stop to the cycle of teen dating violence."  

Break the Cycle and Verizon Wireless are launching the "Let Your Heart Rule" campaign today.  The first 500 schools to register at www.letyourheartrule.com will receive a "Let Your Heart Rule" kit with stickers, posters and palm cards to distribute on campus.  Schools will also receive a copy of Break the Cycle's Speak.Act.Change-Youth Advocacy program along with phone-collection kits courtesy of HopeLine from Verizon.  After the first 500 units are distributed, additional toolkits can be purchased for $25.  

HopeLine from Verizon puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work in the community by collecting no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider.  Verizon Wireless and the HopeLine program 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, awareness and advocacy.  For more information on HopeLine from Verizon, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

"Verizon Wireless is committed to using all of its resources, the talents of our employees, our philanthropic dollars and our technology to address critical issues facing communities," said Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless.  "We are proud to partner with Break the Cycle, an organization that is committed to ending domestic violence and building awareness of the critical role and need to educate and empower young people on the serious issue of dating violence."

HopeLine from Verizon and Break the Cycle will also be launching a Public Service Announcement (PSA) competition for high schools to create an educational video on teen dating violence.  To check for updates on the competition and learn more, visit www.letyourheartrule.com.

If you or someone you know is a victim of teen dating violence or in immediate crisis, call 911 or the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline at 1.866.331.9474.  To learn more about dating violence and how you can help stop it, visit www.breakthecycle.org.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 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 Break the Cycle

Break the Cycle believes everyone has the right to safe and healthy relationships. As the leading voice for teens on the issue of dating violence, Break the Cycle advocates for policy and legislative changes that will better protect the rights and promote the health of teens nationwide. Engaging, educating and empowering youth through prevention and intervention programs, Break the Cycle helps young people identify and build healthy relationships. For more information, please visit www.breakthecycle.org or call 310.286.3383.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless