Verizon has awarded a $20,000 grant to the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCADV) in support of its economic empowerment programs.
The grant money will be used to fund financial education classes, credit counseling, matched savings accounts and microloans for domestic violence survivors served by Kentucky’s 15 regional domestic violence programs and state community college system.
“We are pleased to announce this grant during Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” said Steve Van Dinter, public relations manager for Verizon’s Great Lakes market. “KCADV’s Economic Empowerment Program is truly instrumental in helping domestic violence survivors become self sufficient. By supporting this program, Verizon is part of a community-coordinated response to a pervasive problem that affects far too many people.”
The grant was provided through Verizon’s HopeLine program, which accepts community-donated phones from any carrier and turns them into grants to be invested back into community nonprofits, Van Dinter said.
About 2,100 participants are currently working with KCADV’s economic empowerment program. Participants open matched savings accounts, called Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) to be used to purchase vehicles, pay post-secondary education expenses, buy a first home or start a small business. So far, participants in the program have made more than 600 asset purchases totaling more than $2 million.
Kentuckians who wish to support the HopeLine program can bring any used cell phone for donation to their local Verizon store.