Verizon's Annual Shower for the Shelter Campaign Brings Nearly $290,000 Worth of Household Items to Assist Victims of Domestic Violence

NEW YORK, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly $290,000 worth of clothing, personal items and household supplies will be donated to domestic violence shelters across the country, thanks to the generosity of Verizon employees, customers and the public.

The Verizon Foundation partnered with the National Network to End Domestic Violence to organize the drive at more than 300 Verizon-employee locations across the country to support 185 domestic violence shelters.

Verizon employees and members of the public took part in the annual Shower for the Shelter campaign to collect needed clothing, personal items and household supplies for shelters that serve survivors of domestic violence. The public was invited to take part in the campaign by making a tax deductable, online contribution to the National Network to End Domestic Violence at www.nnedv.org/verizon.

This was the Verizon Foundation's fourth annual Shower for the Shelter campaign, and the first open to the public. Since the campaign's launch in October 2007, Verizon employees have collected more than $1.3 million worth of household items to benefit survivors of domestic violence.

"Families often come to us with very little," said Jody Petry, of the TESSA shelter in Colorado Springs, Colo.  "These donations enable us to give women the personal-care items they need for themselves and their family and help return their dignity as well. Verizon has been very generous to TESSA, and we appreciate this greatly."

Sue Else, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, said, "The economy is taking a huge toll on domestic violence shelters across the country.  These donations will make a real difference in the lives of so many domestic violence survivors and their children."

The donated items will be distributed later this month to domestic violence shelters in the local communities where the items were collected. Money collected through online donations will be distributed to shelters by the National Network to End Domestic Violence.

"Domestic violence is an issue that affects every community," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston.  " Through this campaign, Verizon employees and the public have helped raise awareness of this important issue and provided valuable support to the shelters that provide critical services to survivors of domestic violence."

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.

NNEDV, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a leading voice for domestic violence victims and their allies.  Its members include the 56 statewide and territorial coalitions against domestic violence.  It works closely with them to understand the needs of domestic violence victims and advocacy programs.  NNEDV has been a premier national organization advancing the movement against domestic violence for the past 15 years, after leading efforts among domestic violence victim 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.

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.

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SOURCE Verizon