Four Pennsylvania PBS Stations to Screen Documentary on Domestic Violence, Host Community Events on Issue

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, four Public Broadcast System stations across Pennsylvania, in partnership with Verizon, will host community events to raise awareness of services available to victims of domestic violence and at-risk individuals.  The events also will include screenings of "Telling Amy's Story," a powerful documentary on domestic violence that has been airing on PBS stations throughout the country.

"Telling Amy's Story," created by Penn State Public Broadcasting, chronicles the time leading up to the death of Amy Homan McGee, a mother of two who was shot and killed by her husband.  

"We believe that 'Telling Amy's Story' can serve as a catalyst to bring communities together to talk about domestic violence and address a significant challenge for our society," said Gale Y. Given, president of Verizon Pennsylvania.  "While we never will be able to change the ending to Amy's story, we hope that it will change outcomes for millions of victims, survivors and loved ones affected by domestic violence every day."      

The documentary expands on a partnership between Penn State University and the Verizon Foundation to address the issue of domestic violence. The foundation awarded grants of $385,000 to Penn State to fund a domestic violence prevention training program for the university's students and faculty and to create the "Telling Amy's Story" documentary.  Mariska Hargitay of NBC-TV's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation introduces the documentary.

The four PBS stations hosting events are WQLN in Erie (Oct. 6); WHYY in Philadelphia (Oct. 12); WLVT in the Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton region (Oct. 21); and WQED in Pittsburgh (Nov. 18).  The events also will include special screenings of the documentary.  To learn more about the documentary and the planned events, contact the local PBS stations or visit http://telling.psu.edu.

Verizon has a long-standing commitment to raising awareness of domestic violence and aiding in its prevention. Since 2007, the Verizon Foundation has awarded more than $15 million grants to nonprofits that support victims of domestic violence.

Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 7 million phones, given out nearly $8 million in cash grants, and distributed more than 90,000 HopeLine phones with more than 300 million minutes of free wireless service for use by DV survivors.  For more information on HopeLine by Verizon and to learn how to organize a HopeLine drive during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, in October, go to www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad – including more than $3.8 million in Pennsylvania.  It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $26.1 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

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 mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 92 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.  

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SOURCE Verizon