Powerful PBS Documentary on Domestic Violence to Premiere in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- "Telling Amy's Story," a powerful documentary on domestic violence, will air on local PBS affiliate KTEH/KQED on Monday, June 28, at 10 p.m. "Telling Amy's Story" chronicles the time leading up to the death of Amy Homan McGee, a mother of two who was shot and killed by her husband.

"Telling Amy's Story" builds on a successful domestic violence prevention program at Pennsylvania State University. Through the program, Penn State has trained employees and students at university campuses to spot the signs of domestic violence and provide assistance to those in need. Both the training program and the documentary were funded through Verizon Foundation grants in the amount of $385,000.

A special premiere screening will be held at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco on Thursday, June 24, at 6 p.m. Among the dignitaries scheduled to attend are: Secretary of State Debra Bowen; State Senator Leland Yee; San Francisco first lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom; Beverly Upton, executive director, San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium; Tara Shabazz, executive director, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence; and Verizon West Region President Tim McCallion.

A community forum will follow the screening and discuss the challenges to and solutions for domestic violence prevention.

"Amy Homan McGee's story is a sadly common one," Shabazz said. "Through our partnership with Verizon, we will continue to spread the message of this powerful documentary to help prevent future violence."

Amy's story is told in large part by Detective Deirdri Fishel, a member of a unit in the State College, PA, Police Department that focuses on a coordinated response to reports of domestic abuse, including participation in the review of domestic violence homicides to find out what clues were missed, or what steps could be taken to stop a similar situation.

Mariska Hargitay of NBC-TV's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation, introduces the documentary.

In the past three years, the Verizon Foundation has awarded more than $5.3 million to nonprofit organizations that assist domestic violence survivors in California.

Through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine® program, more than 7 million no-longer-used wireless phones have been collected and recycled or refurbished to support domestic violence survivors, generating $8 million that has been given to local agencies since 2001.

"By raising awareness and talking about how our community can help victims and hold abusers accountable, we can take positive steps toward prevention," said Verizon's McCallion. "Verizon is proud to partner with the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and all of our partners to bring this important story and its lessons to a wider audience and to hopefully save lives."

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 Verizon

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.

SOURCE Verizon

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