Verizon Contributes $75,000 to Domestic Violence Prevention Efforts in South Carolina

GREENVILLE, S.C., Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- To coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), Verizon has issued seven grants to South Carolina domestic violence agencies to assist them in the vital work they do each day. The grants, which total $75,000, stem from the Verizon Foundation's initiative to invest in organizations that provide domestic violence education, prevention, victim relief and empowerment resources.

The grants assist victims of abuse by funding shelters, healthcare resources and educational services. One recipient agency is Columbia-based Sistercareⁱ, which will use its $10,000 Verizon grant to fund mental health counseling for domestic violence victims.

"Domestic violence can be associated with a higher likelihood of mental health disorders in survivors," said Nancy Barton, Executive Director of Sistercare, citing a study in the Journal of the American Medical Associationⁱⁱ. "We strive each day to give these survivors the support they need so they have the best shot at securing a healthy future."

The University of South Carolina Educational Foundation's College of Social Workⁱⁱⁱ received $15,000 from the Verizon Foundation to promote healthy relationships in order to prevent dating violence at Irmo High School near Columbia.

"I am pleased that the Verizon Foundation is supporting our work with high school students and administrators to engage youth as leaders and advocates to promote healthy teen relationships," said Dr. Pippin Whitaker, assistant professor at the College of Social Work.

In addition to Sistercare and the College of Social Work, the following agencies also received Verizon Foundation grants:

• MARYS House^iv, Easley
• My Sister's House^v, Charleston
• Family Justice Center of Georgetown County^vi
• Columbia College Police Department^vii
• Citizens Opposed to Domestic Violence^viii, Beaufort

"Verizon takes seriously our commitment to ensuring sufficient resources are available to victims of domestic violence," said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless president for the Carolinas and Tennessee. "Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time when we should all reflect on what we can do to help those in our communities who need help."

For more than a decade, Verizon, through its various business units and its philanthropic foundation, has been a champion of ending domestic violence.  For more information on the Verizon Foundation, please visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

The Verizon Foundation helps people to live healthy, safe and independent lives by addressing disparities in education, healthcare and sustainability. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live. Verizon's employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.8 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information, 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 consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 100 million retail 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. A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 180,900. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts and other information are available at Verizon's online News Center at newscenter.verizon.com. The news releases are available through an RSS feed. To subscribe, visit newscenter.verizon.com/corporate/feeds.

ⁱ http://www.sistercare.com/
ⁱⁱ http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/02/sexual.assault.domestic.violence/index.html
ⁱⁱⁱ http://giving.sc.edu/areastosupport/collegesschools/collegeofsocialwork.aspx
^iv http://maryshouse.com/
^v http://mysistershouse.org/ 
^vi http://www.fjcgeorgetown.org/
^vii http://www.columbiasc.edu/campus-life/services/campus-police
^viii http://www.codalowcountry.org/

SOURCE Verizon Foundation