Verizon Provides $70,000 Grant to Ohio Domestic Violence Network to Support Its Efforts to Reach Out to More Men

CINCINNATI – NFL wide receiver A.J. Green today joined Verizon representatives to present a $70,000 grant to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. The donation will assist the organization in enhancing services offered to engage men across Ohio to end domestic violence.

“The donation from Verizon and HopeLine means a great deal to our organization,” said Nancy Neylon, executive director of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. “With the donation, we will be able to take our network to a whole new level in the state of Ohio, and we’ll be able to get more men engaged in the organization.”

Presented during National Domestic Violence Awareness month, the grant consists of a donation of $50,000 contributed by HopeLine from Verizon and an additional $20,000 from the Verizon Foundation. The grant will help the Ohio Men’s Action Network implement programming to engage men and boys throughout Ohio in domestic violence awareness and prevention.

“At Verizon, we’re committed to supporting local organizations year-round in their efforts to combat domestic violence,” said Andy Brady, director of sales for the Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia region for Verizon Wireless. “The $70,000 will play a vital role in assisting the organization to expand programming and services to educate men across the state on the importance of preventing domestic violence.”

Following the presentation, Green; Fred Cranford, head coach for Loveland High School’s varsity football team; and other men in the community joined Brady and Mark Frazier, president of the Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia region for Verizon Wireless, in signing the OHMan Pledge to commit to speaking out against domestic violence and playing an active role to end violence against women.

For more than a decade, Verizon, through its various business units and its philanthropic foundation and HopeLine program, has been a champion of ending domestic violence. Verizon helps domestic violence survivors  in Cincinnati and across the country by providing cash grants to help nonprofits fund education, programs and support services, in addition to collecting no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories to support survivors. Verizon customers can easily connect with a domestic violence counselor by dialing #4673 (#HOPE) from their mobile phones. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/domestic-violence-prevention.