Verizon Foundation Dedicates Wellness Center for Domestic Violence Victims to Heal from Trauma, with $10,000 Grant

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon on Monday (Feb. 14) joined the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) to open the Verizon Wellness Center for the Cornerstone program at DASH.

The center, made possible with a $10,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, will provide women escaping abuse with a dedicated warm, secure area to heal from the trauma they have experienced.

"Women who have been displaced from their homes because of domestic violence desperately need a place to feel safe from the turmoil they've experienced," said Peg Hacskaylo, executive director of DASH.  "Verizon has made it possible for the women living here to recover from the chaos of abusive homes and have a space to find peace and healing essential for them to move forward in their lives.  That kind of support is invaluable."

The DASH Cornerstone program opened on Nov. 2, 2010, and is currently the largest safe housing facility for survivors of domestic violence in the District of Columbia.  The facility houses 43 units and 150 beds for women and children fleeing violent homes.  Battered women often experience long-lasting effects from the violence they've suffered, including physical symptoms resulting from past abuse and emotional after-effects like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Anahata Grace, a coalition of holistic healers, will provide wellness services for the Cornerstone program.  This coalition works with vulnerable communities in need – such as domestic violence survivors, homeless or sheltered adults, veterans with PTSD, and front-line service workers.  Holistic healers share the physical and mental health benefits of alternative mechanisms for healing by teaching yoga and facilitating access to holistic and wellness services at no cost.

"Domestic violence touches every segment of society and the impact can be devastating," said Karen I. Campbell, vice president and chief policy officer for Verizon in Maryland and Washington, D.C.  "While the problem is universal, the solutions are not.  Verizon is proud to support DASH in making life a little easier for so many victims who suffer abuse."

According to Campbell, Verizon has a long history of supporting organizations that assist domestic violence survivors.  During the past four years, the Verizon Foundation has awarded $21 million to nonprofit organizations to support domestic violence prevention.

HopeLine® from Verizon puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work in the community by collecting no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider.  Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones; awarded more than $10 million in cash grants to prevention and awareness programs nationwide; and donated more than 106,000 HopeLine phones with 319 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations.

About the District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH)

The mission of the District Alliance for Safe Housing, Inc. (DASH) is to ensure access to safe and sustainable refuge for victims of domestic violence through the development and management of safe housing and related services, while increasing the capacity of other community-based organizations to expand housing for victims throughout the District of Columbia.  DASH addresses the overwhelming lack of housing and social services for victims of domestic violence and their children in the District by providing safety and necessary resources.  DASH helps women and children rebuild their lives on their own terms.  To learn more, visit www.dashdc.org.

About the Verizon Foundation

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention.  In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours of community service since 2000.  For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

SOURCE DASH