Voices of Hope of Lincoln Receives $7,500 Grant From Verizon for Crisis Services for Domestic Violence Survivors

LINCOLN, Neb., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Voices of Hope of Lincoln received a $7,500 grant from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, at the organization's 35th Anniversary Celebration last night. The organization estimates that the grant will ensure the following services for survivors of domestic violence within Lincoln and Lancaster County within the next four months, based on monthly averages:

• More than 5,000 calls to Voices of Hope's 24-hour crisis line will be answered.
• Up to 100 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault at hospital emergency departments will have a Voices of Hope advocate at their side at their time of crisis. They will also have access to safety planning, outreach and referral materials to help ensure their safety.
• Up to 100 individuals will have access to daily walk-in services for help with protection orders, safety planning, provisions for their basic needs and services referral.

Marcee Metzger, executive director of Voices of Hope, commended Verizon for its long-standing commitment to survivors of domestic violence.  "Verizon is one of a few major corporations that have identified prevention of domestic violence as their corporate priority," says Metzger.  "In these challenging times this donation helps us  provide services 24 hours per day."  

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. In 2009, Nebraskans donated more than 5,600 wireless devices to HopeLine, and since the program began, more then 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 Voices of Hope

Voices of Hope provides advocacy services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, incest and abuse. The agency's primary focus is on providing intervention services 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week through a 24-hour crisis line, emergency advocacy services in response to calls from hospitals and police, daily walk-in advocacy and counseling services and support groups. All services are free and confidential. For more information contact Voices of Hope:  Office – 402-476-2110; Crisis Line: 402-475-7273 or go to the web site at www.VoicesofHopeLincoln.org.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: 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 the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 93 million customers. Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 237,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 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