Sportscaster James Brown Teams With Verizon Foundation, Launches Campaign to End Domestic Violence

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sportscaster James Brown, the host of CBS Network's "The NFL Today" and Showtime's "Inside the NFL," has teamed with Verizon to launch a national campaign to end domestic violence against women and men.

Brown appeared on several broadcast media outlets on Monday (Jan. 30) to enlist the support of sports fans to promote equality and respect, and to speak out against domestic violence.

"Domestic violence is an epidemic in all of our communities," Brown said.  "That deepened my personal commitment and desire to help end domestic violence.  It's my hope that millions of men join me in this campaign."

Through this campaign, Brown is promoting respect and equality – respect for yourself and in your relationships -- and he's asking men to be informed and be appropriately proactive when they witness disrespectful or abusive behavior.

"I'm here to encourage men and help them understand that they can have a very meaningful impact, much more easily than they think," Brown said.  "Don't laugh at that inappropriate joke.  Second, don't condone domestic violence with your silence.  If you know someone who is abusive – physically, verbally, emotionally or financially – you as men can play a positive role, just like the coach of a team, and be helpful in changing behavior.  This campaign will build awareness around the issues of domestic violence prevention and the resources available for helping those experiencing domestic violence and those who perpetrate it."

Rose Stuckey Kirk, president of the Verizon Foundation, said: "Domestic violence knows no boundaries.  It affects men and women, every race, every culture and all socioeconomic levels.  That's why a very important part of this campaign is educating men and women on how to help someone in need.  That means referring people in need – men and women who are experiencing domestic violence – to resources that can help them live a violence-free life. Verizon welcomes this partnership with James Brown, whose leadership and commitment have helped elevate domestic violence prevention in our national dialogue."

Ted Bunch, co-founder of A CALL TO MEN, a leading national men's organization working to galvanize a movement of men committed to ending violence and discrimination against women and girls, said, "Violence against women is rooted in the underlying belief that women are less valuable than and the property of men."

Brown added: "I want dads, coaches, teachers and other men of influence who engage young men to actively reinforce the value of women and girls. This is a major step in the process of eliminating the problem."

The Verizon Foundation championed this campaign as part of its effort to address the impact of domestic violence on individual health, family wellness and the community. To review the recent research by the World Health Organization, which details the prevalence of domestic violence and validates strategies to reduce it from a gender perspective, click here.

The Verizon Foundation helps people to live healthy, safe and independent lives by addressing disparities in education, health care and sustainability. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live.  Verizon's employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.2 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

About James Brown
James Brown serves as host for the CBS Television Network's NFL pre-game show, "The NFL Today." Brown hosts the award-winning "Inside the NFL" on SHOWTIME alongside ana­lysts Phil Simms, Cris Collinsworth and Warren Sapp. Brown's first book, "Role of a Lifetime: Reflections on Faith, Family and Significant Living," relayed how he found the role he was meant to play, highlighting both the good and bad decisions he made along the way, teaching readers how to discover life's purpose for themselves. Throughout his career he has earned numerous awards, including three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Studio Host for "The NFL Today" and "Fox NFL Sunday," and the Dick Schaap Memorial Award for Media Excellence.  No stranger to charitable efforts, JB hosts the P.U.L.S.E. Awards, featuring "The JB Awards" where NFL players are honored for their outstanding community service.  He is a cause-related marketing advocate on issues including domestic violence prevention with the Verizon Foundation, and a Brand Ambassador for Community with AARP.  JB resides in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan area.

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 consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 109 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 194,000.  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 email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon