Five For Fathers: Verizon Wireless Celebrates Father's Day in Alabama by Supporting Healthy Families

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of Father's Day, Verizon Wireless is giving a total of $5,000 in HopeLine® grants to five organizations across Alabama that offer programs designed to support fathers and build healthy family relationships.

Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program puts Verizon's technology and the nation's most reliable and largest network to work in communities by turning no-longer-used wireless phones into grant dollars to support domestic violence awareness and prevention. Wireless phones given to HopeLine are refurbished and sold for reuse, generating proceeds for the grant program.

"At Verizon Wireless, we recognize that reducing the incidence of domestic violence requires a focus on the whole family," said Jonathan LeCompte, president – Georgia/Alabama region. "For several years we have supported shelters and victims on Mother's Day, and this year we are expanding that effort to reach fathers who need counseling and support."

Organizations receiving grants include the following:

• Autauga County Family Support Center, Prattville – Supporting "Fatherhood Program"
• Impact Family Counseling Center of Alabama, Birmingham – Supporting "Responsible Fatherhood"
• Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement (SAFE), Sylacauga – Supporting "Fatherhood Program"
• Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, locations across NW Alabama – Supporting "Family Development" and "Fatherhood Initiative"
• Family Guidance Center of Alabama, locations across Alabama – Supporting "Fatherhood Program"

In addition to grants to support domestic violence non-profits, HopeLine provides refurbished phones – complete with 3,000 minutes of wireless service – to local domestic violence organizations or local government and law enforcement agencies for use with their domestic violence clients. For more information on the program or how to donate your no-longer used wireless devices, go to www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves nearly 108 million total wireless connections, including 92.2 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless