Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving Donates $25,000 to Sandy Hook Promise
Funding will expand the Know the Signs for Gun Violence Prevention Programs.
NEWTOWN, Conn., May 10, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Through a $25,000 charitable donation to Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a leading gun violence prevention organization, The Wireless Zone® Foundation for Giving gift will support the training of youth and adults in four evidence-based Know the Signs programs that have been proven to decrease violence, bullying, and other forms of victimization while strengthening school communities. This philanthropic partnership will bring SHP's Know the Signs programs — Start With Hello, Say Something, Signs of Suicide, and Safety Assessment and Intervention — at no cost to hundreds of schools in 2019-2020.
"With the support of Wireless Zone, we will be able to empower even more students to Know the Signs to prevent school shootings, reduce bullying, and create environments of connectedness and inclusion that help minimize the potential for youth violence and self-harm," said Nicole Hockley, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.
Wireless Zone will be presenting Sandy Hook Promise with an award check at a ceremony in the Newtown Wireless Zone store, located at 228 South Main Street, on Monday, May 13th. Store owner Christopher Severo commented, "Here at the Newtown Wireless Zone store, our goal is to serve the community and families of Newtown in all possible ways. We are honored to show our support for this important cause locally and across the country with Wireless Zone. We will continue to provide great service and a great customer experience at our community Verizon stores."
"We will never forget what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School that day," said Brian Murtari, Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving President and Chief Information Officer for Wireless Zone. He added, "We are working with Sandy Hook Promise to bring awareness and educational programs about gun violence and bullying to children, adults and educators to prevent it from happening in the future. Students and communities around the world can all benefit from this effort. Children should never have to worry about feeling safe, especially at school."
Other owners in the Wireless Zone® franchise concur.
"My heart goes out to any parent who loses a child, especially when education could have prevented it," said Scott Gladstone, Wireless Zone® Owner and Foundation for Giving Board Member. "We are happy to support the mission of Sandy Hook Promise, educating our children to prevent tragedy."
To date, SHP has trained over 6.5 million youth and adults in 14,000+ schools and youth organizations in all 50 states. The programs have stopped multiple school shootings, suicides, and gun threats; reduced bullying and cyberbullying; intervened upon cutting, substance use, hate crimes, and other forms of violence and self-harm; and helped hundreds of youth get the mental health assistance they need.
About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. We are led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012 that claimed the lives of 20 first-graders and 6 educators. Sandy Hook Promise is focused on preventing gun violence (and all violence) BEFORE it can happen by educating and mobilizing parents, schools, and communities on mental health and wellness programs that identify, intervene, and help at-risk individuals. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible non-policy and policy solutions that protect children and prevent gun violence. Our intent is to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation. Make the Promise at http://www.sandyhookpromise.org.
About Wireless Zone: Founded in 1988 in Wethersfield, CT as "The Car Phone Store", the Wireless Zone® system has become the nation's largest wireless retail franchisor and was ranked the No. 1 franchise in its category by Entrepreneur magazine. Each store is independently owned and operated, exclusively offering Verizon Wireless products and services. The Wireless Zone® system has been honored with Verizon's "Best Customer Service" award for five consecutive years and is franchised and operated by Wireless Zone LLC. For more information, visit https://www.wirelesszone.com
About The Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving: The Wireless Zone® Foundation for Giving was founded in 2003 after identifying a need and desire to give back to our communities. Today the Foundation raises a substantial amount of money to support a large number of local charities and causes in the communities in which we do business. We have time- honored relationships with Make-A-Wish, Autism Speaks, Children's Tumor Foundation and St. Jude's.
SOURCE Wireless Zone Foundation
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