Latino Group Launches Campaign Against Domestic Violence

Casa de Esperanza Launches Hope Campaign to Challenge Communities Across the Country to Take Action Against Domestic Violence

Verizon Wireless Commits $50,000 to Sponsor Campaign

ST. PAUL, Minn.,  -- Believing that domestic violence will end only when it is no longer acceptable, Casa de Esperanza, a national Latina domestic violence organization, today launched its Hope Campaign to challenge people across the country to take action in their daily lives to create a world free from domestic violence.

Sponsored by Verizon Wireless, the national Hope Campaign puts the work of ending domestic violence in the hands of individuals and communities. A new, interactive Web site - www.casadeesperanza.org/hope-campaign - offers tools, tips and ideas for people to get involved in the Hope Campaign, including taking the Pledge of Hope - a personal commitment to ground relationships in love, respect and understanding.

"It isn't the work of Casa de Esperanza or any other organization that will end domestic violence," said Amy Sanchez, chief executive for external relations at Casa de Esperanza. "It is individual and community action that will end violence and create communities where all are safe and valued."

"Casa de Esperanza has demonstrated leadership within Latino communities around the issue of domestic violence, and we are proud to work with them to raise awareness and provide resources through the Hope Campaign," said Jim Gerace, vice president of corporate communications at Verizon Wireless. "No single company or agency can break the cycle of violence we face, but, working together, we can make a larger impact."

In addition to taking the Pledge of Hope, the Campaign provides:

• Access to resources and information about domestic violence and ways to promote healthy relationships.
• Ideas to support domestic violence prevention through fundraising events with the Hope Campaign or by donating no-longer-used cell phones to HopeLine®, Verizon Wireless's phone recycling program.
• Tools for shelter or agency workers to help explain domestic violence to children and other community members.

A key element of the Hope Campaign is new audio and video public service announcements, available in both English and Spanish, that remind us of the positive impact we all can make through our words and actions. To preview or order the PSAs, visit www.casadeesperanza.org/hope-campaign.

The Hope Campaign was created from the belief that no one is born violent - violence is a learned behavior. We all have the opportunity and responsibility to take small, but important, action in our daily lives and to promote hope, not fear and peace, not violence.

Verizon Wireless has long been involved in domestic violence prevention and awareness activities, led by the company's HopeLine phone recycling and reuse program. Consumers are invited to donate no-longer-used cell phones at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or use a pre-paid mailing label found on the Web (www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel). The phones are either refurbished or recycled. With the funds raised from the sale of the refurbished phones, Verizon Wireless donates wireless phones and airtime to victims and provides funding and other contributions to non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country.

To learn more about the Hope Campaign, visit www.casadeesperanza.org/hope-campaign.

About Casa de Esperanza

Rooted in Latina values and realities, Casa de Esperanza works at the grassroots level in Minnesota to shelter and advocate for Latinas and their children, change community attitudes about domestic violence and facilitate community networks. Across the country, the organization enhances Latinos' access to resources and support, conducts culturally relevant research, advocates for policy responsive to Latinos and provides training and consultation to organizations working with Latinos.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless