Daisy Tells a Secret – Preview

Daisy Tells a Secret is a safety video for children, parents and educators, to assist them in talking about personal safety and body ownership.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Daisy had a great day meeting new friends and making new memories.

Click here to watch video.

Thursday, October 8, 2009
4:00 meet Daisy
4:30 animation screening
Birmingham Palladium
250 N. Old Woodward Avenue
Birmingham, Michigan

“Daisy Tells a Secret” is a 10-minute animation for children four to eight. The animation is used to support Haven’s Helping Kids Help Themselves program.  Daisy teaches about safe adults, personal safety and body ownership.

Children welcome. This event is free of charge, however seating is limited. Please contact Diane Rowe at 248-334-1284 x 346 to reserve your seats.

This animation has been produced in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. Contact Haven directly about bringing the Daisy program to your school or youth organization.
(248) 334-1284 ext.360

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Michelle Gilbert  michelle.gilbert@verizonwireless.com 248-915-3680
Alan Upchurch  For Verizon Wireless  248-855-6777  aupchurch@marxlayne.com

BIRMINGHAM, Mich.—A new, short film that teaches children the difference between good and bad touch will premier on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 4 p.m. in Birmingham at the Palladium 12, 250 N. Old Woodward, thanks to $45,000 in funding from the Verizon Foundation to HAVEN, Oakland County’s nonprofit organization committed to ending domestic violence and sexual assault.

HAVEN’s mascot Daisy has been a frequent guest in Oakland County classrooms since 2000. In this new film, she shares with viewers her personal story of surviving sexual abuse, introducing children to the concepts of personal safety and body ownership.

A special meet-and-greet with Daisy will immediately follow the presentation.

“HAVEN’s commitment to keeping children and families safe from domestic violence in our community is unsurpassed,” said Greg Haller, president–Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. “‘Daisy Tells A Secret’ is yet another innovative tool that HAVEN staff and volunteers use to increase awareness of a sensitive, but extremely important issue. At the same time, it opens up a dialogue between young children and their parents.”

Daisy is part of HAVEN’s “Helping Kids Help Themselves” program, which is aimed at 4-to 8-year olds. Because children in that age group are often targets of sexual abuse, HAVEN developed this age-appropriate educational program that focuses on helping children distinguish between good and bad touches as well as what they should do if they are touched inappropriately. Studies have determined that as many as 30 percent of child sexual assault victims are between the ages of 4 and 7, and fewer than half tell a trusted adult within a year.

“For more than a decade, Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation, have been partners in our mission to help and protect children and families,” said Beth Morrison, HAVEN president and CEO.  “We are so very grateful that they, as well as our other corporate partners, recognize the value in supporting Daisy’s message to educate children about sexual abuse.”

HAVEN used the funding from the Verizon Foundation to enhance the animation standards of “Daisy Tells A Secret” so it will more effectively communicate to today’s technologically savvy youngsters. The grant also enabled HAVEN to modernize Daisy’s appearance and replace her well-worn costume.

Daisy reminds children that it is ‘okay to tell’ a safe adult and stresses safety rules such as, “If someone has touched you or tried to touch you in your private area, tell a trusted adult.”  Other rules are “It’s okay to say no,” “It is never your fault” and “Keep telling until someone believes you.”

The Verizon Foundation and Verizon Wireless are recognized nationally for their support of domestic violence awareness and prevention initiatives, along with education programs. Last year, the Verizon Foundation invested nationwide more than $68 million in community grants and matched the charitable donations of Verizon employees and retirees, resulting in an additional $26 million in combined contributions to nonprofits.

Through its long-running HopeLine^® phone recycling and reuse program that turns no-longer-used wireless phones into support for survivors of domestic violence, Verizon Wireless last year awarded more than $1.5 million in cash grants and 63 million minutes of service to help domestic violence organizations and their clients nationwide. In Michigan last year, Verizon Wireless and the Verizon Foundation donated more than $300,000 in cash grants, phones and airtime to local domestic violence agencies and shelters.

Detroit-based One of Us Films produced “Daisy Tells A Secret.” The Birmingham Palladium/Uptown Entertainment donated the theatre for the Oct. 8 film premiere, which is being shown to educators, parents and children.

There is no cost to attend the event and children are welcome. Seating is limited and reservations are required. To R.S.V.P. or for further information, contact Diane Rowe,

248-334-1284, ext 346, or drowe@haven-oakland.org.

###

About HAVEN

HAVEN is a nationally recognized nonprofit leader providing comprehensive solutions and innovative programs promoting violence-free homes and communities. Its mission is to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault across Oakland County and the surrounding communities through treatment and prevention services. For more information, visit www.haven-oakland.org.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 87 million customers nationwide.  Verizon’s Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network. Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON’S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon’s News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.