Verizon Foundation Offers Georgia Nonprofits $100,000 in Domestic Violence Prevention Grants

ATLANTA, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Verizon Foundation is inviting Georgia nonprofit organizations to apply for $100,000 in grants to support the organizations' domestic violence awareness and prevention efforts.

The organizations can apply by responding to a request for proposal that will support numerous groups with grants ranging from $5,000 and $20,000.

Initiatives may include, but are not limited to:

• Proposals focusing on domestic violence prevention among teenagers and young adults.
• Programs educating teenagers about healthy relationships and dating violence prevention.
• Programs educating young men about how not to be a perpetrator of domestic or sexual violence, or both.
• Programs utilizing technology and social media to prevent domestic violence and increase education among teens.

"We are looking to support Georgia nonprofits engaged in helping to break the cycle of domestic violence," said Jeff Mango, president, Georgia/Alabama region, Verizon Wireless. "Domestic violence impacts more than just the victims and their families. It affects society as a whole, and the sooner young adults start learning about this issue, the better. Our goal is to help prevent domestic violence by lending financial support to outstanding organizations in Georgia that are working valiantly for this cause."

To be eligible, a grant applicant must be a nonprofit 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization in Georgia. All grant applications must be submitted through the Verizon Foundation's website, www.verizonfoundation.org/apply, using invitation code "GATeenDate."  Additional information regarding grant guidelines and frequently asked questions can be found at the foundation's website. The deadline for submitting proposals is Aug. 19 at 11:59 p.m.   Verizon will notify recipients of grant decisions by Sept. 30.

Verizon has a long history of supporting survivors of domestic violence and aiding in its prevention. The HopeLine® program from Verizon collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider. Verizon Wireless then provides wireless phones and airtime to nonprofit organizations for use by domestic violence survivors and cash grants to local shelters and nonprofit organizations that focus on prevention, awareness and advocacy.  

Since its inception, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones and provided $10 million in grants. Phones that cannot be refurbished are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero-landfill policy.

In addition, in the past four years, the Verizon Foundation has awarded more than $21 million to nonprofit organizations that assist domestic violence survivors.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, uses its technology, financial resources and partnerships to address critical social issues, with a focus on education and domestic violence prevention. In 2010, the foundation awarded nearly $67 million to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered nearly 6 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.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, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon Foundation