Verizon Employees Throughout the Country Collect $400,000 Worth of Household Items to Assist Victims of Domestic Violence

NEW YORK - Hundreds of Verizon volunteers across the country have collected $400,000 worth of household items to assist the victims of domestic violence.  The employees participated in a two-week Shower for the Shelter campaign to collect needed clothing, personal items and household supplies for domestic violence shelters.

The Verizon Foundation partnered with the National Network to End Domestic Violence Fund to organize the recent drive at more than 375 Verizon, Verizon Business and Verizon Wireless locations across the country.

"Shower for the Shelter provides sorely needed necessities for the families we serve and spreads the word about our services," said Sharon Hoahing, director of development and facilities at the Nassau County (N.Y.) Coalition Against Domestic Violence Inc., which benefited from Shower for the Shelter.  "The generosity of Verizon volunteers tells our clients that people understand and support their decision to live a life free of violence."

All items collected will be distributed later this month to 245 domestic violence shelters in the local communities where the items were collected.

"Domestic violence programs are serving more and more individuals each day with limited resources," said Sue Else, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Fund.  "Verizon's Shower for the Shelter is a wonderful example of how individuals can help domestic violence programs provide comfort and support to victims."  

According to the National Census of Domestic Violence Services conducted by NNEDV, domestic violence programs have served as many as 53,000 adults and children in a single day. "Domestic violence is a pervasive problem that affects people in every community," said Verizon Foundation President Patrick Gaston. "We are tremendously proud that so many of our Verizon volunteers have given of their own time and resources to support the victims of domestic violence."

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its signature program, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2007, the foundation awarded more than $67.4 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the United States and abroad. The foundation also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $25.1 million in combined contributions. Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 3 million hours of community service since Verizon's inception in 2000.

For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

The National Network to End Domestic Violence Fund (NNEDV Fund) is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing public education, training and technical assistance to maintain and develop the professional expertise of advocates working to end domestic violence.  The NNEDV Fund strives to strengthen advocates as organizers and activists in the tradition of social change movements.  For more information, please visit www.nnedvfund.org.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 67 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employed a diverse workforce of approximately 232,000 as of the end of the first quarter 2008 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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