News Flash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Verizon Wireless has awarded a $15,000 HopeLine grant to the Family Violence Task Force, a part of Community Partnership of the Ozarks' Violence Free Families. The funds will allow domestic violence training to be provided at no cost to the community.

The Springfield area’s Family Violence Task Force (established in late 2012) had many objectives to explore upon its formation, but one central goal was to educate the community about the issues of family violence and the overall effect this issue has on the quality of life, businesses, education and civic reputation. The Springfield area continues to see a growing number of domestic violence cases.

Springfield was continually reminded of its severe problem with domestic abuse earlier this year. In a span of four months, seven people were killed by their own family members.

The majority of aggravated assaults Springfield police respond to are also domestic related. For this reason, prevention and education is at the forefront of our efforts, and with this goal in mind, the Family Violence Task Force is preparing for the third annual Stop the Violence conference, to be presented on Oct. 29 at Missouri State University’s Plaster Student Union. The day will include three keynote presentations from nationally-recognized advocates: Jeffrey Bucholtz from We End Violence, Curt and Christie Brungardt of Jana’s Campaign and Matthew Dale from the National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative.

The conference will also feature eight breakout sessions. Those topics include:

Thanks to Verizon’s support of the Task Force’s mission of educating the entire community on this issue, the Stop the Violence conference will be free for all attendees.

HopeLine from Verizon puts the wireless network to work in the community by turning wireless phones that are no longer in use into support for victims of domestic abuse. Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to provide wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence and cash grants to organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention.

"Verizon Wireless has a long-standing commitment to domestic violence prevention, awareness and advocacy, and we are pleased to recognize and support the work of the Springfield Police Department and the Family Violence Task Force," said Brendan Fallis, president - Kansas/Missouri region, Verizon Wireless. "Their efforts to end abuse throughout southwest Missouri has made a tremendous difference and has raised awareness of the need for prevention and intervention programs. Through our HopeLine program, we can partner with key law enforcement agencies like the Springfield Police Department across the United States."

Since the launch of the HopeLine phone recycling program in 2001, Verizon has collected more than 11 million phones; awarded more than $29 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies and organizations throughout the country; properly disposed of nearly 1.7 million no-longer-used wireless phones in an environmentally sound way; distributed more than 190,000 phones with millions of minutes of free wireless service to be used by victims of domestic violence; and kept tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.

For more information about HopeLine from Verizon, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline. For more information or to register to attend the Stop the Violence conference, visit www.commpartnership.org/stoptheviolence. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the 24-hour crisis hotline at 417-864-SAFE (7233). If outside the Springfield area, call 1-800-821-6863.

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View footage from the second annual Stop the Violence conference (2014).

Conference poster (pdf)

Conference Registration

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Media Contact: Lisa Cox, Public Affairs Officer
417-864-1786
[email protected]
Release authorized by: Chief Paul Williams