The Rape and Abuse Crisis Center of Fargo-Moorhead Receives a $6,000 Grant From Verizon for Domestic Violence Prevention Education

FARGO, N.D., Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rape and Abuse Crisis Center (RACC) of Fargo-Moorhead and Verizon announced a partnership to develop a domestic violence prevention education curriculum for North Dakota eight-graders.

Funded through a $6,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, the RACC classroom curriculum will focus on personal violence issues that are common to middle school students. Information will be provided that will help students avoid potentially abusive situations and point out inappropriate uses of technology in relationships such as harassment, stalking, sexting, cyber-bullying, luring, and the exertion of power and control by one person over another in an intimate relationship. The goal will be to help students identify appropriate boundaries when using technology.

Greg Diehl, RACC executive director, said, "Advances in technology bring new benefits, but also new areas of concern when it comes to personal violence issues. Our goal with this grant is to provide information and tools to middle school students in an effort to prevent harassment, stalking, exertion of power, and other incidents that can have long-term negative effects."

The school districts of Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo will be asked for input into the curriculum and once established, the program will be presented to the school districts for inclusion in classroom education for all eighth grade students. This education will impact the communities of Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, and surrounding area.

"It is critical to give our young people the resources to break the cycle of violence in their communities," said Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. "I commend the RACC and Verizon for their increased outreach efforts."

"This educational program will create awareness of how to appropriately use technology and also address issues that are critical for the well-being of youth in the Fargo-Moorhead communities," said Seamus Hyland, president–Great Plains Region, Verizon Wireless.  "Verizon is pleased support the educational efforts of the RACC, the school districts and local law enforcement to create this new curriculum for the schools."

Verizon Wireless has supported domestic violence awareness and prevention efforts over the last decade through the company's award-winning HopeLine® phone recycling program.  Through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories, in any condition, from any wireless service provider. Phones that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those without value are disposed of in an environmentally sound way. All proceeds benefit non-profit shelters and organizations that focus on domestic violence awareness and prevention. Over the last five years, North Dakotans have donated more then 17,600 phones to HopeLine and since the program began more than 7 million phones have been recycled or refurbished.

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.  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.

About the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center

The Rape and Abuse Crisis Center is dedicated to offering crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, and education to all persons affected by sexual and domestic violence. The agency also believes in and provides prevention programming in an effort to create a society free of personal abuse.  In 2009, the agency provided services to 2,917 individuals who have been victimized by domestic violence or sexual assault. All client services are provided at no cost.

About Verizon

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.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless