Verizon Foundation Offers $200,000 in Grants to New Jersey Nonprofit Organizations for Domestic Violence Prevention Programs

NEWARK, N.J., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- New Jersey nonprofit organizations can compete for $200,000 in grants from the Verizon Foundation to support technology-based programs to combat domestic violence through awareness, prevention and recovery in under-served communities across New Jersey.

The foundation will award grants to nonprofit agencies that develop programs that use technology to enable the agencies to more effectively reach the communities they serve; to provide strategies for enhancing the safety of victims; and to offer job-related, training technology for individuals participating in the programs.

"Domestic violence is a silent epidemic that can affect people at all levels of our society," said Dennis M. Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey.  "By supporting domestic violence prevention programs, we can help raise awareness of this issue and stop the violence before it begins."

To be eligible, a grant applicant must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in New Jersey.  Proposals should focus on under-served communities, such as low-income, ethic, minority, limited-English speaking and disabled groups in rural, suburban and inner-city regions. All grant applications must be submitted through the Verizon Foundation's website, www.verizonfoundation.org, using invitation code VZNJDV.  Additional information regarding the grant guidelines can be found at the foundation's website. The deadline for submitting proposals is Sept. 2 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.  Verizon will notify recipients of grant decisions by Sept. 30.

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.

Under the HopeLine from Verizon program, no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories are collected at Verizon Wireless stores, or by mail, to help victims of domestic violence. The devices are refurbished or recycled in an environmentally friendly way. Refurbished phones are donated along with 3,000 minutes of wireless service to local domestic violence organizations and law enforcement agencies for use by their domestic violence clients. Verizon Wireless was the first wireless carrier in the nation to collect and recycle used cell phones, and has done so on behalf of survivors of domestic violence since January 1999 – first in New York and then across the U.S. For store locations and to learn how to donate a phone by using a postage-paid mailing label, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

In addition, proceeds from HopeLine fund a variety of innovative programs.  For example, HopeLine recently awarded grants to provide for: video technology that allows domestic violence's youngest victims, children, to participate in legal proceedings from a safe environment; the printing of training documents that assist employers in recognizing and addressing the threat of domestic violence in the workplace; and startup funding for entrepreneurial survivors of domestic violence attempting to establish or expand small businesses.

Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones, properly disposed of 1.7 million no-longer-used wireless phones, and kept more than 210 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon