A representative from the Verizon Foundation presented UALR Chancellor Joel E. Anderson with a $10,000 check for a campus organization dedicated to violence prevention, Thursday, Aug. 22.

The donation will help fund the work of Green Dot, an organization that seeks to reduce power-based personal violence, both on and off-campus. It was presented during the Burgers at Bailey annual campus-wide picnic.

“UALR has a rich history of community partnerships to help solve complex problems that affect our city,” said Chancellor Anderson.

“We appreciate Verizon’s efforts to help us as we work together to resolve these issues of violence that not only affect the campus family, but also exceed the physical boundaries of our campus,” he said.

More than 50 institutions of higher education across the country have implemented the program; however, UALR is the only Arkansas school investing resources to host Green Dot at a university campus.

The comprehensive approach to violence prevention uses the power of peer and cultural influence to target all community members as potential bystanders and engage them through awareness, education and skills practice.

Laurie Ann Ross, director of corporation and foundation relations for the UALR Office of Alumni and Development, wrote the grant requesting support from the Verizon Foundation earlier this year.

“One of main things the program aspires to do is make students feel comfortable about approaching someone if they are victims of domestic violence,” she said.

“This funding will go a long way in helping promote safety for all of us and in sending the clear message that we have zero tolerance for violence.”