Jenesse Center, Verizon Announce Partnership to Benefit Job-Skills Training for Survivors...

Jenesse Center, Verizon Announce Partnership to Benefit Job-Skills Training
for Survivors of Domestic Violence

Career Transitions Program Designed to Break the Cycle of Violence Through
Educational Empowerment

LOS ANGELES, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Victims of domestic violence can now
participate in a job-skills training program that can lead to economic
self-sufficiency, thanks to a new partnership announced by the Jenesse Center
and Verizon.

At the charity's annual fundraiser, the Silver Rose Gala and Auction, on
Sunday (April 19), Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, the Jenesse Silver Rose
chairperson, accepted a $250,000 grant from Verizon for the program.

"Over the past nine years, I've watched the lives of countless families be
transformed through Jenesse, and this work will continue with the help of
Verizon and others," Berry said. "I am excited about the future for these
families as we work to build on our success and bring an end to their
suffering, one family at a time."

Verizon's grant will be used for the Career Transitions Program. Participants
who complete the 12-to-18-week program are certified in business, medicine,
customer service and computer training by nationally accredited universities,
such as Rutgers University, LSU and Sacramento State. The program is supported
by the National Business Services Alliances.

"Statistics show that many domestic violence victims are unable to leave their
situation due to lack of skills and the ability to be self sufficient," said
Karen Earl, Jenesse Center executive director. "We are honored to have
Verizon as our corporate partner, and its support will move our Jenesse
clients into a new realm of self-sufficiency through education."

The Career Transitions Program will support Jenesse Center's goal to increase
self-empowerment through education for women and families victimized by
domestic violence. Domestic violence can create serious obstacles that
prevent survivors from achieving economic security and self-sufficiency. By
controlling and limiting the victim's access to financial resources, a
batterer ensures that the victim will be financially limited if she chooses to
leave the relationship.

"Jenesse's programs have been the catalyst needed to inspire women to make
life-changing decisions," said Elva Lima, vice president, strategic programs,
Verizon. "This partnership allows us to continue to use our resources to
support an organization that has a proven record of success in domestic
violence awareness, prevention, and survivor support."

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications,
supports the advancement of literacy and K-12 education through its free
educational Web site, Thinkfinity.org, and fosters awareness and prevention of
domestic violence. In 2008, the Verizon Foundation awarded more than $68
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 an additional $26 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 3 million hours of
community service since 2000. For more information on the foundation, visit
www.verizonfoundation.org.

About Jenesse Center
Founded in 1980, Jenesse Center Inc. is a non-profit organization that
provides culturally sensitive programs, services and outreach efforts to
families victimized by domestic violence, by providing a comprehensive,
centralized base of support and services that ensures a transition from
immediate crisis to stability and self-sufficiency. Jenesse Center provides a
holistic, comprehensive program to nurture victimized families back to a place
of mental, financial, physical and emotional well-being.
Housing women and children from 30 days up to two years through its 156-bed
emergency and transitional shelters, Jenesse also provides a variety of
support services to more than 1,000 families annually including mental health
counseling, independent life skills classes, computer training, job referrals,
after school programs for children, field trips, tutoring and legal assistance
offering assistance with obtaining restraining orders for domestic violence
victims.

About Verizon Communications Inc.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader
in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication
innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.
Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving
more than 80 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations
include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business
solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings
customers the benefits of converged communications, information and
entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A
Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 224,000 and last
year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion. For
more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and
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SOURCE Verizon

Jesus Torres, Verizon, +1-805-372-6813, jesus.torres1@verizon.com; Jeanine
Taylor, president, JCEC Public Relations, +1-213-271-7134 , jcecpr@gmail.com