HopeLine Champion Award: Waterloo Police Department

Verizon Wireless presented Chief Dan Trelka and the Waterloo Police Department in Iowa with the company’s HopeLine Champion Award: Law Enforcement Partnership for its role in investigating domestic violence cases and partnering with the city’s Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART). Before the DART team began its work in 1995, 33 percent of Waterloo’s domestic violence cases were dismissed due to unsuccessful prosecution. By the first half of 2011 Black Hawk County had reduced this dismissal rate to 16.7 percent.  Verizon Wireless also gave a $10,000 grant to the local domestic violence agency, Seeds of Hope, to provide advanced domestic violence training to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim advocates, victim service providers and others involved in the criminal justice system.

Pictured (left to right): Terry Helinski, Executive Director, Seeds of Hope; Police Chief Dan Trelka; Jeff Pritchard, government account manager, Verizon Wireless; Tom Ferguson, Black Hawk County Attorney.

Law Enforcement Partnership Award: Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Orange County, California

In June 2010, Verizon Wireless honored Sheriff Sandra Hutchens of the Orange County, Calif., Sheriff's Department with the HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award. In 2009, under the leadership of Sheriff Hutchens, the Family Protection Unit in Orange County investigated more than 2,600 criminal and non-criminal acts of domestic violence. A special $10,000 HopeLine grant was also presented to Laura’s House in recognition of Sheriff Hutchens’ work.

Pictured (left to right): Sheriff John E. Zaruba, Du Page County, Ill., outgoing 2009 president of the NSA; Aaron D. Kennard, executive director of the NSA; Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Orange County, Calif.; Gabe Esposito, director, corporate security, Verizon Wireless.

HopeLine Champion Award: Bismarck Police Department

In October 2011, the Bismarck Police Department was presented with the HopeLine Champion Award: Law Enforcement Partnership for its commitment to a collaborative, focused community response for people trying to escape domestic violence situations. The program helps ensure that they receive both justice and access to needed services. In addition to its recognition of the police department’s work, Verizon Wireless presented the Abused Adult Resource Center with a $15,000 HopeLine grant.

Pictured (left to right): Keith Witt, Bismarck Police Chief; Diane Zainhofsky, executive director of the AARC; Wayne Stenehjem, Attorney General of North Dakota; and Cary Degenstein, associate director government—Great Plains Region, Verizon Wireless.

Partner Recognition: FBINAA New England

In July 2010, Verizon Wireless honored the New England Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) for its dedication to keeping local communities safe and its work to benefit victims of domestic violence. Verizon Wireless also made a HopeLine grant of $10,000 to the Family Justice Center of Boston (FJC) in recognition of the FBINAA’s work. The FJC, a program of the Boston Public Health Commission, is comprised of on-site partner organizations that support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking. The donation will provide for enhancements to the FJC's on-site training space.

Pictured (left to right): Kevin Joyce, New England chapter president, FBINAA and Chief Deputy, Cumberland County, Maine, Sheriff’s Office; Gabe Esposito, director, corporate security and business continuity, Verizon Wireless; Anne Marie Delaney, director, FJC; Kelli-Beth Conway, development manager, Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC).

Law Enforcement Partnership Award: Minneapolis Police Chief Timothy J. Dolan

In May 2010, Verizon Wireless presented Minneapolis Police Chief Timothy J. Dolan with the HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award. The award honored his commitment to reducing domestic violence in Minneapolis, Minn., including implementing city-wide domestic abuse training for all 800 Minneapolis police officers. In recognition of Chief Dolan and the police department’s work with the Domestic Abuse Project of Minneapolis (DAP), Verizon Wireless presented a $10,000 HopeLine grant to DAP to fund a community advocate who will focus primarily on Latinas affected by domestic violence in Minneapolis.

Pictured (left to right): Susan Segal, Minneapolis City Attorney; Carol Arthur, executive director Domestic Abuse Project; Gary Schiff, Minneapolis City Council Member; Timothy J. Dolan, Minneapolis Police Chief; Sandra Colvin Roy, Minneapolis City Council Member; Tom Wurtz, director of retail sales - north district, Verizon Wireless Great Plains Region

Law Enforcement Partnership Award: Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman

In October 2009, Verizon Wireless presented Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman with the HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award for his commitment to reducing domestic violence, providing support to people trying to escape domestic violence situations and for forming strong partnerships with community organizations focused on preventing domestic violence around Denver. A special $5,000 HopeLine grant was also presented to SafeHouse Denver in honor of Chief Whitman's contributions.

Pictured (left to right): Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman; Sean Hull, director of business sales, Verizon Wireless; Victoria McVicker, chief executive officer for SafeHouse-Denver; Mark Harris, vice president of national government sales, Verizon Wireless. (Photo by: Steve Groer)

Law Enforcement Partnership Award: Colonel MacArthur Holmes of Savannah

In September 2009, Verizon Wireless honored Colonel MacArthur Holmes of Savannah, Ga., with the National HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award from Verizon Wireless for his efforts in stamping out domestic violence in Georgia.

Pictured (left to right): Eddie Jones, store manager, Verizon Wireless; Cheryl Branch, executive director, SAFE Homes; Colonel MacArthur Holmes, Chatham County Sherriff’s Department; Lt. Eva Perkins, vice president of NOBLE Georgia Chapter; Major John Wilcher, Chatham County Sherriff’s Department.

Law Enforcement Partnership Award: Police Chief Ronald L. DePompa and the Glendale Police Foundation

In 2009, Verizon Wireless presented its HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award to Glendale, Calif. Police Chief Ronald L. DePompa for his work toward ending the domestic violence epidemic in California. The award was accompanied by a $2,500 grant to the Glendale Police Foundation for domestic violence services as well as 20 HopeLine phones for use by local domestic violence shelters.

Partner Recognition: Sheriff Al Lamberti, Broward County, Florida

In 2009, Verizon Wireless recognized Sheriff Al Lamberti of the Broward County, Fla. Sheriff´s Office and donated $2,500 to Women In Distress, the leading domestic violence services agency in Broward County, on behalf of Sheriff Lamberti´s efforts in combatting domestic violence in Florida.

HopeLine Grant: Women Called Moses and Genesis Women’s Shelter

At the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration in Dallas, Texas, on February 4, 2011, HopeLine presented the Women Called Moses Coalition, Outreach, Inc., and Genesis Women’s Shelter with a $15,000 donation. The donation will help both organizations in their mission to provide a safe haven and secure shelter for victims of domestic violence in the Dallas area.

HopeLine Grant: Dr. Oliver J. Williams, IDVAAC

At Verizon's How Sweet the Sound 2010 Finale in Washington, D.C., hosts Cece Winans and Donald Lawrence presented a $50,000 donation from HopeLine to Dr. Oliver J. Williams of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC). The donation will help the IDVAAC continue on its mission to raise awareness of domestic violence in the African-American community.

New York

If you are victim of domestic violence and a resident of New York, you can start your own business by applying for a Verizon Wireless Domestic Violence Entrepreneurship Grant. The grant program, funded in consultation with the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, provides funding to entrepreneurs who have broken the cycle of violence and are ready to put their skills to work to get a home office or small business up and running.

Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC

Aspiring Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC, entrepreneurs who have survived the cycle of domestic abuse are eligible for a HopeLine grant. Whether a startup company, a new retail establishment, consulting firm, or another entrepreneurial endeavor, Verizon Wireless is offering survivors of domestic violence who are ready to put their small business dreams into action the opportunity to apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 from the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program.