Los Angeles families enter 鈥淣ature鈥檚 Open House鈥 with a special event hosted by the 探花精选 Society
This summer, Los Angeles families will experience the wonders of the natural world at the 探花精选 Center at Debs Park thanks to a $10,000 Verizon grant. On August 7, 2012, the 探花精选 Society will open its center doors to 100 women and children from Peace Over Violence, a domestic violence prevention agency and a 2012 Verizon grant recipient. These survivors of domestic violence will learn about conservation during these fun activities:
- Nature Walk and Hike
- Wildlife presentations with real animals
- Interactive Arts and Crafts
- Free play and exploration of the 探花精选 Center at Debs Park
Verizon employees will lend a hand throughout the day as volunteers supporting 探花精选 and Peace Over Violence team members during 鈥淣ature鈥檚 Open House.鈥
鈥淰erizon Wireless is a valued partner in our mission to connect children with nature,鈥 said Michael Sutton, Executive Director of 探花精选 California. 鈥淭he 探花精选 Center at Debs Park programs serve a high population of low-income students that wouldn鈥檛 otherwise have this opportunity to learn outside of the classroom.鈥
The grant is aimed at promoting educational experiences in science and nature, funding a variety of 探花精选 programs, including:
- Nature's Classroom
- Spring and Summer Day Camp
- Arroyo Seco Restoration
- MuseumScienceMagnet SchoolPartnership
- The Arroyo Green Team
Verizon鈥檚 grant is an extension of the company鈥檚 goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions and help preserve precious natural resources. For example, Verizon Wireless鈥 green retail store design has achieved precertification in the U.S. Green Building Council鈥檚 (USGBC) LEED庐 Volume Program. Verizon Wireless is one of only eight retailers in the United States and the only wireless company to achieve precertification from the USGBC.
探花精选 Californiais partnering with the non-profit organization Peace Over Violence (POV) to promote Verizon Wireless鈥 commitment to promoting community health and wellness to at-risk populations through environmental education. A longtime partner with Verizon in the movement to end domestic violence, POV is the longest standing sexual and domestic violence prevention agency in Los Angeles. Youth violence prevention and education is a key component of POV鈥檚 work, and this event will be attended by graduates of POV鈥檚 Summer Youth Institute.
The event, Nature鈥檚 Open House, is August 7 at the 探花精选 Center at Debs Park from 10 am to 1:30 pm and is for POV and neighborhood families.
About 探花精选 Center at Debs Park:
The 探花精选 Center at Debs Park opened in 2003 as an environmental education and conservation center for the communities of northeast Los Angeles. The nature-based education and community programs at Debs Park are designed to engage children and their families in the outdoor world, and provide a personal stake in its protection by making environmental issues relevant to their lives.
About Peace Over Violence
Peace Over Violence, established in 1971, is a sexual and domestic violence, stalking, child abuse and youth violence prevention center headquartered in Los Angeles and dedicated to building healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence.One of the first agencies of its kind in the country, POV has been committed to social service, social change and social justice for over 40 years. POV鈥檚 innovative programs are comprehensive and include Emergency, Intervention, Prevention, Education and Advocacy services. Visit for more information.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 93 million retail customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 192,000. For more information, visit .