Jana’s Campaign will extend outreach after Verizon grant

Christie and Curt Brungardt accept $10,000 donation from Verizon's Hopeline Tuesday. — Christie and Curt Brungardt of Jana’s Campaign accept $10,000 donation Tuesday from Verizon’s HopeLine.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Jana’s Campaign Inc. will increase its coverage of domestic violence prevention programs thanks to a grant from Verizon Wireless.

Representatives from the Verizon Wireless corporate office in Kansas City traveled to Hays on Tuesday to present Jana’s Campaign co-founders Curt and Christie Brungardt with a $10,000 check to support the organization’s “Love Doesn’t Hurt” teen dating violence prevention program.

Jana’s Campaign was created in honor of Curt and Christie’s daughter, Jana Mackey, who, Curt said, was murdered by an ex-boyfriend in Lawrence in 2008.

Verizon Wireless District Manager James Estes said the funds come from Verizon’s HopeLine program.

Estes said the program provides cash grants and phones for organizations working with domestic violence survivors and those working to prevent domestic violence.

Estes said Verizon’s HopeLine supports Jana’s Campaign because of the organization’s mission to stop violence before it happens.

“(Jana’s Campaign) is a great program to go out and support (as we) try to prevent domestic violence before it ever starts by educating people on the warning signs and tools to prevent the violence before it happens,” Estes said.

Curt Brungardt said the extra resources will be used to target middle and high school students in rural Kansas.

“It is my belief it is going to be public and private partnerships like this that are going to have the biggest impact on reducing domestic violence in our country,” he said.

For more information on Jana’s Campaign, visit the website HERE.