SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon,
along with the City of Detroit's
Deputy Mayor Ike McKinnon, the
Detroit Police Department,
Michigan State University Men's
Basketball Coach Tom Izzo, Detroit
Lions Running Back Ameer Abdullah and representatives from YWCA of
Metropolitan Detroit, Jewish Women International and American Axle
& Manufacturing, gathered together at Campus Martius Park in
Detroit on Tuesday, Sept. 29 for the first ever Rally For
Hope. The event served as a kick-off for the month-long HopeLine
Drive in October, in which the public is invited to help Verizon
reach 1 million phone donations for domestic violence education and
prevention. In addition, Verizon announced that nine Michigan domestic violence agencies will
receive a combined total of more than $100,000 in HopeLine from Verizon grant money --
including a grant through the YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit to
provide domestic violence training to the Detroit Police Department in November.
Remarks from community leaders include:
- "Domestic violence impacts our families, our friends, our
coworkers and our community -- one in three women, one in four men
and more than 3 million children in the
United States are hurt by it," said Aimee Novak, Verizon's Director of Strategic
Sales, who spoke on behalf of the company at the Rally. "We
encourage the public to join us in raising awareness and helping us
reach 1 million donated phones by the end of 2015. This is an
incredible opportunity to band together to make a real difference
in the lives of domestic violence survivors by raising awareness
and providing support and education through the donation of
no-longer-used phones."
- "Domestic violence is a nuanced and complex problem, and the
Detroit Police Department is
dedicated to learning as much as we can about its causes, how to
prevent it and how to identify and protect community members
experiencing it," said Detroit
Police Chief James Craig. "This
training will help us do that, and will ensure we are optimally
working with our community and municipal leaders to provide the
best possible care, support and protection to the citizens of
Detroit."
- "I am encouraging not only MSU fans, students, alumni and
staff, but also the entire state of Michigan, to join me in supporting the
statewide HopeLine drive launching today," said Michigan State University Basketball Coach
Tom Izzo. "And for fans
attending the October 24 MSU football
game versus Indiana, you can make
a fast and important difference by bringing your no-longer-used
phones and accessories to donate to Verizon and MSU Safe Place
volunteers at the entrance gates."
- "The City of Detroit has an
energy and a passion unlike any other. Today we ask you to harness
that passion and come together to support survivors of domestic
violence through HopeLine from Verizon," said Detroit Lions
Running Back Ameer Abdullah. "It's simple -- all it takes is
cleaning out your junk drawers at home and dropping off your
no-longer-used phones, in any condition and from any carrier, at
any Verizon retail store."
- "American Axle & Manufacturing is proud to once again
partner with Verizon to support and empower survivors of domestic
violence through the HopeLine from Verizon program," said
American Axle & Manufacturing Director of Marketing and
Communications Chris Son. "This
drive will help to make sure that survivors have the resources and
help they need at their most critical hour and that the community's
attention is drawn to this widespread issue."
- "Each year, YWCA's Interim House staff and volunteers handle
nearly 5,000 crisis calls. Additionally, nearly 1,600 women and
children are admitted to the YWCA Interim House program for an
average stay of 65 days -- and our shelter has been at capacity for
more than six months," said Emma
Peterson, President and CEO of YWCA of Metropolitan
Detroit. "By supporting the only domestic violence shelter in
the city of Detroit, which offers
programs like our 24-hour crisis help line, shelter, counseling,
support groups, victim advocacy, childcare services and more, this
$30,000 HopeLine from Verizon grant
will be an incredible source of relief and strength for our
survivors in Detroit."
- "Jewish Women International is committed to protecting the
fundamental rights of all girls and women to live in safe homes,
thrive in healthy relationships and realize the full potential of
their personal strength," said Lori
Weinstein, CEO and Executive Director of Jewish Women
International. "We are grateful to have the opportunity to
partner with the YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit through the HopeLine
from Verizon program to ensure that Detroit's women and children have safe access
to necessary resources."
- "As someone who grew up in a home that could erupt violently at
any point, I know how critical it is to provide a lifeline to women
and children who are impacted by domestic violence," said
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
(MI-12). "This HopeLine funding from Verizon will ensure
organizations in my district and throughout the State of Michigan can continue to give hope to
survivors and provide life-saving services and support systems for
women and children in need."
In conjunction with announcing the month-long HopeLine Drive,
Verizon also announced at the Rally For Hope that the following
Michigan-based domestic violence
agencies are receiving a combined total of $100,000 in HopeLine from Verizon grant
money:
- YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit
- Jewish Women International
- Goodwill Industries of Detroit
- HAVEN of Pontiac
- Alternatives For Girls of Detroit
- First Step of Wayne
County
- Ruth Ellis Center of Highland
Park
- MSU Safe Place of East
Lansing
- ACCESS of Dearborn
The YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit's $10,000 grant is funding domestic violence
training for more than 400 Detroit Police officers during a two-day
training event in November. Mark
Wynn, a retired police officer and internationally renowned
domestic violence prevention expert, will lead the sessions. Wynn
has performed training in all 50 states and more than 10 countries
to train thousands of police executives, patrol officers,
dispatchers, prosecutors, judges, legislators, health care
professionals and advocates on domestic violence, sexual assault
and child abuse prevention. In addition to his educational career,
Wynn, who is a survivor himself, has served as an advisor to state,
national and international leaders to help guide and shape law and
policy on this important issue and helped form the largest police
domestic violence investigative unit in the United States.
HopeLine offers the public an opportunity to help prevent
domestic violence by donating no-longer-used wireless phones and
accessories in any condition from any carrier. Wireless phones
given to HopeLine are refurbished and recycled in an
environmentally sound way generating proceeds going toward
financial support of domestic violence awareness and prevention
programs. Verizon also donates phones through HopeLine –
complete with service – to local domestic violence agencies or law
enforcement agencies for use by domestic violence survivors. To
participate, the public can take any old, no-longer-used phone or
accessory to any Verizon retail location.
Since 2001, more than 11.4 million phones have been collected
nationwide, more than $29 million
cash grants have been provided to domestic violence organizations
and more than 190,000 phones have been donated to domestic violence
survivors.
For more information, visit
http://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/hopeline.
About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in
New York, employs a diverse
workforce of 178,500 and generated more than $127 billion in 2014 revenues. Verizon Wireless
operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 109.5
million retail 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 worldwide. For more
information, visit www.verizon.com/news/.
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SOURCE Verizon