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Verizon Offers $100k To Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention Nonprofits

The Verizon Foundation Monday announced a Domestic Violence Solutions Request for Proposal. 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 of the Michigan-Indiana-Kentucky region for 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 domesticviolence 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 Web site. The deadline for submitting proposals is 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, Aug. 12. Verizon will notify recipients of grant decisions by Sept. 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.

In Michigan, Verizon Wireless has more than 2,100 employees and 65 company-owned retail locations in more than 50 cities.

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