Women Against Abuse Recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month With 3rd Annual iPledge Campaign
Posted on October 05, 2010 at 10:10 am
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women Against Abuse Recognizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month
With 3rd Annual iPledge Campaign
City-wide call to action for Philadelphians to take a personal stand against domestic violence
Philadelphia, PA – October 6, 2010 – Women Against Abuse (WAA), Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence agency, will kick off the 3rd Annual iPledge Campaign, sponsored by Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine Program, the Verizon Foundation and Drexel University, calling on Philadelphians to take a stand against domestic violence.
"In a city in which domestic violence murders nearly doubled in the past year and requests for help were made at unprecedented numbers, it is more important than ever for us to call on the community to take a stand against violence," said Jeannine L. Lisitski, WAA’s Executive Director. "Everyone can do this by visiting www.iPledgeWAA.org and signing the pledge.”
The iPledge Campaign will launch with an Oct. 6th press conference featuring Mayor Michael Nutter. The press conference will take place at noon at Drexel University’s Dragon Park on the Southeast corner of 33rd and Market streets.
In addition to the Mayor, speakers at the press conference will include Drexel University’s Dean of Students, David Ruth; President, Verizon Pennsylvania, Gale Given; Regional President, Verizon Wireless, Mario Turco; State Senator LeAnna Washington; Susan Clark-Sestak, wife of Congressman Joe Sestak; Deputy Police Commissioner Patricia Giorgio-Fox; Doctor Elizabeth Datner, Medical Director of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; and William Spratley, whose daughter was murdered by an abusive partner.
Singer/songwriter Laura Warshauer will play her featured song “My Fault,” which describes the experience of a domestic violence survivor. Other entertainment will include Drexel University’s student pep band, and the Drexel Dragon mascot ‘Mario the Magnificent.’ Lead sponsor Verizon Wireless will have netbooks available through which participants can sign an electronic pledge against violence. Verizon Wireless will also be collecting used cell phones for survivors, and encourages the community to donate their no-longer needed cell phones in any condition from any service provider to its HopeLine Program (www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline). In recognition of the iPledge Campaign, Philadelphia Community College will also be collecting used cell phones and urging students to sign onto the pledge on Oct. 6th.
“Domestic violence awareness and prevention has been at the forefront of Verizon’s community service commitment for more than a decade and we continue to focus our time, resources, and support to this important cause,” said Verizon Wireless’ Mario Turco. “Now more than ever, it’s important that other leading corporations and community members from across our region join together to provide support and resources to this critical community-focused initiative.”
The Cira Centre and PECO building will be lit purple – the official color of the domestic violence movement – as will Drexel’s Walkway Park (32nd Street, between Market and Chestnut streets) and the fountain at Korman Quad (between 32nd and 33rd streets, Market and Chestnut streets). Purple iPledge banners and bus shelter ads will also line Broad and Market Streets. Purple refreshments at the kick-off event will be courtesy of Sodexo, and South Street’s Jim’s Steaks will provide hoagies.
City Council will proclaim October Domestic Violence Awareness Month during session on September 30th.Other events scheduled in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month include Senator LeAnna Washington’s 3rd annual Walk to End Domestic Violence on October 23rd at West River Drive; an October 27th opening of an art exhibit at the Philadelphia Foundation featuring creative pieces from the child artists at the Women Against Abuse emergency shelter; and the Women Against Abuse fundraising event, Dish It Up, on November 4th at Moore College of Art and Design. For more information, visit www.iPledgeWAA.org or call 215 386 1280 x115.
####
About Women Against Abuse
Women Against Abuse (WAA), Inc., one of the largest domestic violence programs in the country, serves more than 10,000 individuals each year through emergency housing, legal services, hotline counseling, education and advocacy. WAA operates the only comprehensive program in Philadelphia whose sole purpose is to assist victims of domestic violence and their children. For more information, go to www.womenagainstabuse.org.
About Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine Program
Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine Program collects no-longer used wireless phones, batteries, and accessories nationwide for victims of domestic violence. The initiative began in 1995, and to date, Verizon Wireless has collected over more than 7 million phones with more than 300 million minutes of free wireless service to be used by domestic abuse survivors and awarded more than 7.9 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies across the country.
Press Contact: Taluva PR, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 267-886-8888
Download Press Release
