Verizon Awards $35,000 to UC Davis Family Protection Clinic
Founded in 1999, the Woodland-based clinic has represented clients in an average of 79 cases per year, assisting victims of domestic violence and their children to obtain needed financial support, and protective and custody orders, which allow these families to go on with their lives without the threat of further abuse. The clinic is the only entity providing free representation to low-income victims of domestic violence and related problems in Yolo County, where 18.4 percent of the population live below the federal poverty level. In addition, the clinic offers invaluable hands-on experience for King Hall students, and partners with the Yolo County Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center to offer community education.
"We are very proud of the important work of the Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic, which has made a profound difference in the lives of many victims of domestic violence and taught students much about the practice of law for those most in need," said Kevin R. Johnson, dean of the UC Davis School of Law. "Thanks to the Verizon Foundation for its generous support of the clinic."
The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic branch of New York-based Verizon Communications Inc., a leader in the broadband and wireless communications industry. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than $400 million in the United States and around the world, with a primary focus on literacy, domestic violence prevention, and access to technology. Verizon supports the survivors of domestic violence through a myriad of programs, including Verizon Wireless' Hopeline program. Through the program, no longer used phones are collected and provided to nonprofit organizations that assist domestic violence survivors.