For Release: April 28, 2009
Contact: David Clementson
Email: dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
Attorney General Mims Recognizes
Innovative Domestic Violence Programs
Verizon Wireless HopeLine Program Donates Thousands of Dollars to Community Groups during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
RICHMOND – Attorney General Bill Mims is joining forces with the Verizon Wireless HopeLine Program and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance to recognize localities that are implementing innovative solutions to combat domestic violence.
At a ceremony today, the Attorney General recognized four localities for their commitment to domestic violence response: Fairfax County, Loudoun County, the Metropolitan Richmond Area and Tazewell County. In addition, consistent with the recommendation of the localities, Verizon Wireless presented thousand-dollar checks to the Women’s Group of Mount Vernon, Inc. in Fairfax County, the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter, the YWCA of Richmond and Tazewell County’s Clinch Valley Community Action, Inc.
Attorney General Mims said: “Communities that take a stand against domestic violence should be recognized. We look forward to sharing the successful efforts of the selected communities with law enforcement agencies, government officials, victim services providers and others in the private and public sectors across the Commonwealth.”
In addition to certificates of recognition from the Attorney General, communities selected for recognition received monetary awards from the Verizon Wireless HopeLine Program in the amount of $1,000 each. In partnership with the Office of the Attorney General and the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Verizon Wireless has pledged $10,000 in grant funding to the Alliance to support monetary awards over a two-year period.
In October 2008, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, then-Attorney General Bob McDonnell, with the help of the statewide Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, encouraged Virginia localities to apply for official recognition of their innovative response to domestic violence. Applications were due Jan. 31, 2009. The applications were reviewed by a team of local and state stakeholders, who gave final recommendations to the Attorney General. The four localities being recognized today are the first to be acknowledged by the Attorney General’s new program. Applications for a second set of awards will be available on the Attorney General’s Web site, www.vaag.com, starting May 1, 2009.
“Domestic violence is, sadly, a part of every community, and sometimes, it feels like a hopeless situation,” said Mike Maiorana, Verizon Wireless Regional President. “But I’m inspired by the work of the Virginia localities being recognized today and happy to partner with Attorney General Mims to recognize these groups that are doing such an important job in our community.”
The Verizon Wireless grant is made possible by the company’s HopeLine Program, which collects used wireless handsets and accessories to be refurbished, recycled and/or sold. Proceeds benefit victims of domestic violence through grants and the donation of wireless phones and service.
Ever since HopeLine was launched in 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 5.6 million phones, awarded more than $6.3 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies and organizations, and distributed more than 76,000 phones with more than 228 million minutes of free wireless service to be used by victims of domestic violence.
At today’s event, Attorney General Mims and Ruth Micklem from the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance donated used cell phones to the HopeLine program.
For more information on the Community Recognition Program, visit the Attorney General’s Web site at www.vaag.com. For more details about Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program or for instructions on donating a wireless phone, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.
