Verizon and the National Network to End Domestic Violence Launch Campaign to Assist Domestic Violence Survivors

NEW YORK, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Verizon Foundation is partnering with the National Network to End Domestic Violence to launch a nationwide drive in support of domestic violence shelters – and the public is invited to participate.

The foundation's annual Shower for the Shelter campaign, to be held at 300 Verizon facilities across the country, will provide needed clothing, personal items and household supplies to shelters that serve survivors of domestic violence.  Individuals can participate by making a tax deductible online contribution to the National Network to End Domestic Violence at www.nnedv.org/verizon. The campaign runs through May 21.

"Domestic violence affects us all, and all of us must be part of the solution," said Sue Else, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. "Contributions collected through this campaign will go to domestic violence shelters across the country to buy necessities like clothing, diapers and first aid supplies for survivors and their children."

This is the Verizon Foundation's fourth annual Shower for the Shelter campaign, and the first to ask the public to join the effort. Since the initiative's launch in October 2007, Verizon employees have collected more than $1 million worth of household items to benefit shelters that assist survivors of domestic violence.

Raising awareness of domestic violence and aiding in its prevention is a key issue for the Verizon Foundation. In the past three years, the foundation has awarded more than $15 million to nonprofit organizations that assist domestic violence survivors.

Through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine® program, more than 7 million no-longer-used wireless phones have been collected and recycled or refurbished to support domestic violence survivors, generating $8 million that has been given to local agencies since 2001.

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.

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 nearly 93 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 employs a diverse workforce of more than 217,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

NNEDV, a 501( c )(3) organization, is a leading voice for domestic violence victims and  their allies.  Its members include the 56 state and territorial coalitions against domestic violence.  It works closely with them to understand the needs of domestic violence survivors and advocacy programs.  NNEDV has been a premiere national organization advancing the movement against domestic violence for the past 15 years, after leading efforts among domestic violence advocates and survivors in urging Congress to pass the landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994.  To learn more about NNEDV, please visit www.nnedv.org.

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SOURCE Verizon