SOUTHFIELD, Mich.—The Verizon Foundation today announced a Domestic Violence Solutions Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFP invites nonprofits throughout Michigan to apply for a total of $100,000 in grants to support domestic violence prevention and awareness initiatives.

“We are looking to support Michigan non-profits engaged in helping domestic violence victims, survivors and their families,” said John Granby, president–Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. “Domestic violence impacts more than just the victims and their families. It affects society as a whole at all educational and socioeconomic levels. Our goal is to help stop the cycle of domestic violence by lending financial support to outstanding organizations in Michigan who are working valiantly for this cause.”

To be eligible, a grant applicant must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in Michigan. Proposals should focus on programs that aid survivors of domestic violence in Michigan or involve prevention, awareness and safety enhancements addressing domestic violence. All grant applications must be submitted through the Verizon Foundation’s website, www.verizonfoundation.org/apply, using invitation code 579MEK6E9E. Additional information regarding grant guidelines can be found at the foundation’s website. The deadline for submitting proposals is 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, August 12. Verizon will notify recipients of grant decisions by September 16. It is expected that a minimum of six grants will be awarded as part of this RFP.

Verizon has a long history of supporting survivors of domestic violence and aiding in its prevention. The HopeLine^® program from Verizon collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider. Verizon Wireless then provides wireless phones and airtime to nonprofit organizations for use by domestic violence survivors and cash grants to local shelters and nonprofit organizations that focus on prevention, awareness and advocacy. 

Since its inception, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones and provided $10 million in grants. Phones that cannot be refurbished are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero-landfill policy.

In addition, in the past four years, the Verizon Foundation has awarded more than $21 million to nonprofit organizations that assist domestic violence survivors.

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About Verizon Wireless in Michigan

In Michigan, Verizon Wireless has more than 2,100 employees and 65 company-owned retail locations in more than 50 cities, including Allen Park, Alpena, Alpine Township, Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Battle Creek, Bay City, Brighton, Burton, Canton, Clinton Township, Dearborn, Detroit, East Lansing, Escanaba, Farmington Hills, Fenton, Flint, Fort Gratiot, Gaylord, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Highland Park, Holland, Houghton, Iron Mountain, Jackson, Kentwood, Lake Orion, Lansing, Livonia, Marquette, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Northville, Novi, Okemos, Petoskey, Pontiac, Portage, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Saginaw, St. Clair Shores, St. Joseph, Southfield, Taylor, Traverse City, Troy, Utica, Warren and Westland.

About the Verizon Foundation

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free educational website, Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org), and fosters awareness and prevention of domestic violence.  In 2009, the Verizon Foundation awarded $67.9 million in grants to nonprofit agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  It also matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in $26.1 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.  Through Verizon Volunteers, one of the nation's largest employee volunteer programs, Verizon employees and retirees have volunteered more than 5 million hours of community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizonfoundation.org.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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.

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