Verizon Wireless Awards 60K to Asian American Domestic Violence Organizations
October 20, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Verizon Wireless recently awarded a total of $60,000 to five Bay Area community-based organizations that focus on fighting domestic violence in the Asian American community.
The recipients of the grants, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, were Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Asian Women’s Shelter, Chinese Community Health Resource Center, Korean Community Center of the East Bay and Maitri.
Twelve percent of Asian and Pacific Islander women reported experiencing physical assault by an intimate partner at least once during their lifetime. The rate is lower than Caucasians (21 percent); African Americans (26 percent); and Hispanics (21 percent), but some attribute that to underreporting by Asian and Pacific Islander women.
The five agencies said that they will use the funds to support new and existing domestic violence prevention programs such as an online resource center, an emergency shelter, youth peer counseling, transitional housing and in-language staffing support.
“We are very fortunate to receive strong support from the community and Verizon Wireless,” said Michele Lew, president and CEO of Asian Americans for Community Involvement. “While domestic violence is a tragedy for all those effected, the Asian American community faces unique challenges and risks because of language and cultural barriers.”
Verizon Wireless’ Northern California President Rich Garwood and Public Relations Manager Heidi Flato presented the grants to the organizations on October 15 at the Empress of China Restaurant.
“Verizon Wireless believes in corporate responsibility and helping our community, and it happens that San Francisco has a large Asian population,” Flato said.
The grants were part of Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program, which collects used wireless phones and equipment in any condition from any service provider. The used phones are either refurbished or recycled, and, with the funds raised from the sale of refurbished phones, Verizon Wireless donates wireless phones to victims and provides prepaid minutes.
Since 2001, the company has collected more than 5 million wireless phones and distributed 60,000 phones with more than 180 million minutes of wireless service and cash grants.
Wireless phones and equipment donations are accepted at Verizon Wireless stores nationwide and select BJ’s locations. For information about where to send phones or how to do a collection: verizonwireless.com/hopeline.
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