Latino Greeks launch groundbreaking Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign at USC Working with Latino Youth
LOS ANGELES (8/25/2008) – Verizon Wireless is partnering with best selling author and empowerment specialist, Yasmin Davidds, Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc., and Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. to create the Verizon Wireless HopeLine® and Yasmin Davidds Mobilizing Voices campaign. MOBILIZING VOICES™ is a culturally relevant domestic violence prevention and awareness campaign. The campaign calls upon Latino youth to empower themselves and help break the cycle of domestic violence within their community. MOBILIZING VOICES™ will focus on facilitating a dialogue on dating violence and providing Latino youth with the tools necessary to improve and foster healthy relationships.
The campaign, launching today, will run through the rest of summer and culminate with a MOBILIZING VOICES™ college tour hosted by Yasmin Davidds, Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc., and Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. at the University of Southern California on October 20th. The tour will proceed at San Jose State University on October 21st and Arizona State University on October 22. Over 70 student organizations have come together to help organize the MOBILIZING VOICES™ events and raise awareness.
"We will be discussing the issues of dating violence using an approach that students will relate to," said Yasmin Davidds. "Our goal is to create a movement where our youth are motivated and feel empowered to help a friend or loved one."
Verizon Wireless has long been a corporate supporter of domestic violence awareness programs under their HopeLine® initiative and in 2007 committed over $1.7 million dollars to domestic violence shelters and assistance programs.
"We were exploring unique ways to raise awareness of domestic violence and our HopeLine® initiative among Latino communities," said Ken Muche, Verizon Wireless. "By partnering with Yasmin Davidds, the MOBILIZING VOICES™ campaign will allow us to work with Latino youth to create a forum for education and prevention across multiple states."
Mobilizing Voices Award
As part of the MOBILIZING VOICES™ campaign, Yasmin Davidds and Verizon Wireless will honor four students who have exemplified extraordinary courage in breaking free from domestic violence. The Verizon Wireless HopeLine® and Yasmin Davidds Mobilizing Voices Award will be presented to four students who have shared their stories in transforming the experience of being a victim of domestic violence into a success story of living as a survivor. A selection committee will choose the students who, in their opinion, best exemplify the strength, courage and resolve of the human spirit needed to regain control of their lives. Entrees will be accepted via the MOBILIZING VOICES™ micro site atwww.mobilizingvoice s.com.
An awards ceremony will recognize the honorees with a plaque and congressional proclamation. In addition, a $5,000 donation will be granted to a domestic violence shelter in each of their names. The awards ceremony will take place at the University of Southern California on October 20, 2008.
About HopeLine
HopeLine® is a phone-recycling program exclusive to Verizon Wireless that uses refurbished and recycled wireless equipment and Verizon Wireless services and equipment to help victims of domestic violence. Verizon Wireless collects no-longer used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider at their Communications Stores nationwide. Phones that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those without value are disposed of in an environmentally sound way. Proceeds from the HopeLine® program are used to provide wireless phones and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to:
www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at
www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About Yasmin Davidds
Yasmin Davidds is an internationally recognized speaker, best-selling author and the nation's leading authority in the empowerment of Latinas. She has been recognized and highlighted as one of the Top Leading Latinas in the nation by Hispanic Magazine, and has also been featured as one of the most influential Latinas in U.S. History in The Book of Latina Women: 150 Vidas of Passion, Strength and Success. As a media personality, Yasmin broke ground when she hosted her own television talk show "You Go Girl!" in which she addressed issues and gave powerful solutions to challenges affecting all women. Yasmin has served as a national spokesperson for various campaigns focused on empowerment in the Hispanic community and is currently the empowerment expert for a major internet service and media platform designed for Latinos. For more information about Yasmin Davidds please visit
www.yasmindavidds.com
About Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc.
Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc. was founded on March 11, 1986 at California State University, Chico, becoming the first Latina-based sorority in the region. Since then, the sorority has set out to foster leadership skills, community service and academic excellence in young women. The sorority is also a founding member organization of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO). In addition to having a strong internal support system, the sorority gives the next generation of leaders and professionals a scholarship to aid in their pursuit of higher education. For more information on the organization and/or the scholarship please visit
www.lambdathetanu.org .
About Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.
Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. was founded on December 1, 1975 at Kean College in Union, New Jersey. Lambda Theta Phi is a non-profit social fraternity emphasizing Latin unity and the celebration of the Latin culture. The organization strives to make an impact on not just undergraduate students, but also their surrounding community at large through positive social actions. Lambda Theta Phi's goals are to promote scholarship, Latin unity, respect for all cultures and brotherhood. Lambda Theta Phi promotes gender neutral friendliness and aspire to unite and empower the latino community. For more information please visit
www.lambda1975.org .
