9th Oct 2007 14:01
As the nation commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month thismonth, Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation have pledged$25,000 to support Chatham University's Pennsylvania Center for Women,Politics, and Public Policy (PCWPP). The grant is the centerpiece of amulti-faceted partnership that will give organizations and agenciesstatewide valuable tools to fight the ongoing crisis of domesticviolence. Representatives from Chatham University, Verizon Wirelessand the Verizon Foundation will discuss the partnership at a newsconference on Thursday, October 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the James LaughlinMusic Center on the campus of Chatham University. £ The center will use the grant to conduct a statewide study ondomestic violence, and the study's results will be part of thecenter's annual "Ready to Matter" research series that takes acritical look at issues affecting women. £ "This grant will enable the research series to dig deeper,exposing domestic violence trends across the state and in individualcounties and regions," said Allyson Lowe, Ph.D., assistant professorand director-Pennsylvania Center for Women, Politics, and PublicPolicy. "We then intend to release our findings during the next yearthrough our website and with various printed materials." £ Recent statistics indicate that domestic violence continues toaffect thousands of families in Pennsylvania. In a single day in 2006,nearly 2,500 adults and children across the state sought services fromdomestic violence agencies(1). In 2006, the Commonwealth ofPennsylvania recorded 127 deaths due to domestic violence(2). £ "Knowledge is power, and for agencies and governments toeffectively respond to this ongoing crisis, they need information thatis updated on a regular basis," said Roger Tang,president-Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless."They need to respond to emerging trends so that they can tailor theirservices appropriately. We are proud to support Chatham University andthis important initiative." £ The $25,000 grant is being made available through the VerizonFoundation and Verizon Wireless' award-winning HopeLine(R) program,which puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work incommunities by turning unused wireless phones into support for victimsof domestic violence. £ "Verizon constantly seeks new and innovative partnerships to raiseawareness, promote prevention and help to break the cycle of violencein our communities," said William B. Petersen, president of VerizonPennsylvania. "We believe the 'Ready to Matter' research series canhave a dramatic impact on everyone's understanding of this criticalissue and how to respond to it." £ The "Ready to Matter" research series takes a snapshot of criticalissues and how they impact women across the commonwealth. Topicsinclude women in politics, economic factors affecting women and thestate of women's social autonomy, and domestic violence. The grantfrom Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation will augment thedomestic violence component of this year's report. £ In addition to the research initiative, Chatham Universitylaunched a campus-wide wireless phone collection program at thebeginning of the 2007-08 school year. Students are encouraged to droptheir no-longer-used wireless phones in donation boxes across campus.The proceeds of the drive will benefit HopeLine. £ "Chatham College for Women, Chatham University's undergraduatecollege, is central to this institution's heritage and history," saidEsther Barazzone, Ph.D., president-Chatham University. "The majorityof domestic violence survivors in Pennsylvania are also women, and weare pleased that our students will be playing a role in advancing themission and objectives of HopeLine." £ The results of the "Ready to Matter" research series are expectedto be available in late October. The HopeLine wireless phone drive oncampus will continue throughout the school year. £ To learn more about HopeLine, visitwww.verizonwireless.com/hopeline. For more information about ChathamUniversity's Pennsylvania Center for Women, Politics, and PublicPolicy, visit www.chatham.edu. £ About Verizon Wireless £ Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wirelessvoice and data network, serving 62.1 million customers. The largest USwireless company and largest wireless data provider, based onrevenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, NJ, with67,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of VerizonCommunications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find moreinformation on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview andrequest broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills ofVerizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless MultimediaLibrary at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. £ About Verizon Foundation £ Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of VerizonCommunications, is committed to improving literacy and K-12 education;fostering awareness and prevention of domestic violence; and promotingthe use of technology in health-care delivery. In 2006, the foundationawarded more than $69 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in theUnited States and abroad. The foundation also matched charitabledonations from Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $29million in combined contributions. Under the foundation's VerizonVolunteer initiative, one of the nation's largest employee-volunteersprograms, company employees and retirees have also contributed nearly3 million hours of community service since Verizon's inception in2000. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/foundation. £ About Verizon Communications £ Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York,is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wirelesscommunication innovations to mass market, business, government andwholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliablewireless network, serving more than 62 million customers nationwide.Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which deliversinnovative and seamless business solutions to customers around theworld, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits ofconverged communications, information and entertainment services overthe nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company,Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 238,000 and last yeargenerated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.For more information, visit www.verizon.com. £ About Chatham University £ Chatham University provides its 1,800 students with a solideducation built upon strong academics, public leadership and globalperspectives. Chatham's graduate programs, continuing education andcertification programs provide women and men with advanced educationfor professional careers. Founded in 1869, the University includesChatham College for Women; the College of Graduate Studies; and theCollege for Continuing and Professional Studies. The 35-acre arboretumcampus is located on historic Woodland Road in the Shadyside sectionof Pittsburgh. For more information call 800-837-1290 or visitwww.chatham.edu. £ (1) Source: National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). £ (2) Source: "2006 Domestic Violence Fatality Report," issued bythe Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
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