FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women Against Abuse and Mayor Michael Nutter kick-off
2nd Annual iPledge Campaign
City-wide call to action for Philadelphians to take a personal stand against domestic violence
Philadelphia, PA – October 8, 2009 – Women Against Abuse (WAA), Philadelphia’s leading domestic violence agency, will kick off the 2nd Annual iPledge Campaign, sponsored by Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine Program and Drexel University, calling on Philadelphians to take a stand against domestic violence.
"Domestic Violence impacts everyone in our city and we urge our community to show solidarity in support of this important cause," said Jeannine L. Lisitski, WAA’s Executive Director. "Everyone can do this by visiting www.iPledgeWAA.org and signing the pledge. We need your help to keep our life saving services available to those who need it most.”
Mayor Michael Nutter will speak at a press conference on October 8th at Drexel University to kick off the campaign.
“The violence that plagues our streets is originating in our homes. Too many children are growing up in abusive environments. We have to provide our children with safe and loving homes. I am calling on all Philadelphia citizens to help break the cycle of violence by signing onto the pledge,” said the Mayor.
In addition to the Mayor, speakers at the press conference will include State Senator LeAnna Washington; State Representative Brendan Boyle; President of Verizon Wireless’ Philadelphia Tri-State Region, Mario Turco; 107.9 FM’s on-air personality MoShay LaRen; and Drexel University’s One in Four President, Lonnie Snyder.
Drexel University will host the public event at ‘The Dragon’ on the corner of 33rd & Market Street. Entertainment will include performances by Island Def Jam singer/songwriter Laura Warshauer, students from Overbrook High School, and Drexel mascot ‘Mario the Dragon.’ Lead sponsor Verizon Wireless encourages the community to donate their no-longer needed cell phones to benefit survivors of domestic violence through its HopeLine Program (www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline).
“For more than a decade we’ve focused our community service efforts on domestic violence awareness and prevention and we remain more committed than ever to the cause,” said Verizon Wireless’ Mario Turco. “I invite other leading corporations across the region to lend their support and resources to this critical community-focused initiative.”
Drexel University is the ideal location to kick off the campaign given its ongoing initiatives to combat domestic violence. “At Drexel, student groups are working together to foster a campus community of mutual respect for all people. We are proud to support and raise awareness for the iPledge Campaign,” said One in Four’s Lonnie Snyder.
In recognition of the iPledge Campaign, City Council will proclaim October Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the city will designate October 8th PURPLE DAY – the color of the anti-domestic violence movement. The Cira Centre and PECO building will be lit purple, as will Drexel’s Walkway Park and the fountain at Korman Quad. Purple banners and bus shelter ads will line Broad and Market Streets, and city employees will wear purple. Purple refreshments at the kick-off event will be courtesy of Sodexo, Center City bakery Flying Monkey, and South Street’s Jim’s Steaks.
Other campaign events include an October 21st screening of PBS’ Big Stories, Big Solutions profiling WAA at the Free Library, and the October 29th fundraiser and food competition Dish It Up! at Moore College of Art & Design.
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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 76,000 phones with more than 228 million minutes of free wireless service to be used by domestic abuse survivors and awarded more than 6.3 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies across the country.
Press Contact: Taluva PR, info@taluvapr.com, 267-886-8888
