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VERIZON AWARDS DEAFHOPE $20,040 GRANT
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts:
On February 21, 2008, Verizon awarded DeafHope $20,040 to support DeafHope Children’s Violence Prevention and Healing Program. This grant will be used to support the continuance of DeafHope’s art therapy program for the children of Deaf mothers who experience domestic violence. The program also includes outreach to schools with Deaf children in San Francisco bay area.
DeafHope is a nonprofit organization, established for and by Deaf women in January 2003. Our mission at DeafHope is to end domestic and sexual violence against Deaf women and children through empowerment, education and services. The DeafHope Board of Directors Chair, Kate Kovacs, said, “It’s a wonderful thing when companies like Verizon take the time to recognize and acknowledge the importance of DeafHope’s children art therapy program and its healing effects to be able to deal with what has happened in their
Brian Berlinski, DeafHope’s art therapist, has been working with children at DeafHope since 2005. Due to the high demand for the art therapy services, Mr. Berlinski’s position expanded from part-time to full-time in 2006. Ever since the opening of this program, Mr. Berlinski has worked with schools where Deaf children attend. This art therapy program for deaf children and hearing children of Deaf parents provides a safe, nonverbal way to process their traumatic experience and to start healing. It is a crucial
One Deaf mother of four children vividly described how her children benefit from art therapy sessions, “I left my abusive husband who was starting to hurt my children. I had no place to go. The shelters are not accessible. The police cannot understand me. The courts do not always have sign language interpreters. The therapists do not know sign language. My children and I do not have any place to go to. So, we stay at hotels, friends’ homes, or with family members, surviving on a day-to-day basis. I
Brian Berlinski comments, “We feel incredibly blessed to have such amazing support from Verizon. It takes a community-wide effort to raise awareness about children who have experienced domestic and sexual violence, and to prevent further violence from happening. DeafHope’s values are unified with those of Verizon in our belief that children deserve safe, happy homes where they can live free from the trauma of violence. Thanks to Verizon for supporting DeafHope Children’s Violence Prevention and Healing
DeafHope is the only Deaf-run domestic and sexual violence nonprofit organization in California. DeafHope Children’s Violence Prevention and Healing program, as part of Deaf domestic/sexual violence comprehensive services, is the first and the only one of its kind in the nation. At DeafHope advocates rely on the empowerment model by recognizing that the Deaf survivors have the ability and right to make their own choices toward living independently and safely. DeafHope advocates provide support and information by working with the survivor’s strengths, because only the survivor can make the best choices for her and her family.
Verizon has also awarded grants to other bay area nonprofit and educational institutions. According to Tim McCallion, president for Verizon’s West region, the grants support Verizon’s principal areas of focus. “Literacy, domestic violence prevention and technology access are the underpinnings of all our grantmaking,” he said. “Verizon is fully committed to supporting organizations that are making inroads in these important areas”. Verizon delivers technology that touches life. Verizon uses its technology and its financial resources to improve literacy and L-12 education; help families victimized by domestic violence; and improve the delivery of health care. In 2005, Verizon awarded more than $74 million in grants, $8 million in California alone to charitable and nonprofit agencies. Verizon also supports Verizon Volunteers, which is one of the largest employee volunteer programs in the United States and responsible for 2 million hours of community service since 2000 and $33.6 million combines contributions to nonprofits in 2005 alone. For more information on Verizon and its philanthropic programs, visit http://www.verizon.com/foundation. Verizon Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a New York-based Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and wireless communications innovations to mass market, business government and wholesale customers nationwide. Verizon’s Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com. Verizon noticias in Espanol, http://www.verizonnoticias.com/Home/index.ad2 |
