The Men Against Violence (MAV) group at Cal Poly Pomona has received a $24,250 grant from the Verizon Foundation. The grant money will be used to sponsor and advertise programs and events that promote the awareness of issues of violence.

The Men Against Violence mission is to minimize violence in the campus community by educating people about healthy relationships and to provide support for survivors of violence. MAV works closely with the Violence Prevention & Women’s Resource Center to host educational programs on stalking, sexual assault, rape and domestic abuse. Throughout the year, MAV has training programs to teach the campus community how to support to sexual assault survivors.

“One of our biggest tools we utilize to educate our campus on intimate partner violence is information. We make fliers and brochures that contain valuable facts and statistics that people can reference on their own should they have any questions after they attend one of our meetings,” says Alejandro Pinel, a construction engineering technology major and president of MAV.

MAV strives to provide students with information on how the media impacts society’s perception on gender identity and the facts and myths of sexual assault.

“Becoming a part of MAV was a very rewarding choice. Not only do you gain knowledge and awareness for yourself but you help others to do the same,” says Joseph Forte, a biological science major and treasurer of MAV.

The Verizon Foundation provides grants to organizations that help improve peoples’ peoples’ lives through literacy and educational achievement, preventing domestic abuse, and achieving and maintaining a healthy and safe life.