PHOENIX - Twenty-one domestic violence shelters will share a $250,000 grant announced today by the Phelps Dodge Foundation.

"Last year alone, 86 percent of the women and children we served did not return to their abusive environment, which is a tremendous success," said Patricia Khlar, executive director of Chrysalis Shelter. "We simply would not be able to provide the range of services for victims that make it possible for them to escape violence and build new, safer lives without the support of corporations like Phelps Dodge, which has been willing to make a sustained commitment to this issue."

The grants are part of a three-year commitment of $525,000 pledged by the Phelps Dodge Foundation to address domestic violence. The foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization established by Phelps Dodge Corp. 50 years ago.

"Businesses and other organizations have a responsibility to address domestic violence and other safety issues concerning the family," said
J. Steven Whisler, chairman and chief executive officer of Phelps Dodge Corp. "This is a public health and safety issue that can be solved through an increased commitment to awareness, education and partnership with the organizations that provide the services critical to ending such violence."

Phelps Dodge's safety philosophy is captured in Zero and Beyond, a program that recognizes "zero" as the only acceptable goal for accidents and unsafe incidents -- not only at work, but at home and in the community. "At its core, domestic violence is a safety issue, and clearly, we cannot be satisfied as a society until we reach a goal of 'zero' occurrences of domestic violence," Whisler said.

This year's grants follow a first and second round of foundation grants totaling $275,000. Organizations receiving support include seven shelters in Maricopa County, seven elsewhere in Arizona and seven outside the state.

Receiving grants in Maricopa County are:
* Sojourner Center in Phoenix.
* Chrysalis' shelters in Phoenix and Scottsdale.
* Prehab's Faith House in Glendale and Autumn House in Mesa.
* New Life Shelter in Goodyear.
* Des Colores in Phoenix.
* My Sister's Place in Chandler.

Receiving grants in other Arizona communities are:
* Verde Valley Sanctuary in Cottonwood.
* Horizon Human Services Domestic Violence Safe Home in Globe.
* Stepping Stones Agency in Prescott.
* Mount Graham Safe House in Safford.
* Brewster Center in Tucson.
* Tucson Centers for Women and Children in Tucson.
* The Women's Transition Project in Bisbee.

Also receiving grants are:
* El Refugio in Silver City, N.M.
* The Healing House in Deming, N.M.
* El Paso Shelter on Family Violence in El Paso, Texas.
* Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut in Norwich, Conn.
* Clear Creek County Advocates in Empire, Colo.
* Tri-State Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse in Fort Madison, Iowa.
* Chicago Abused Women in Chicago, Ill.

The Phelps Dodge Foundation provides grants to create and support programs that promote and protect the safety of individuals, families and communities in which the company and its subsidiaries have operations. The foundation also supports educational, environmental, arts, culture and diversity, and community development programs.

Phelps Dodge Corp. is the world's second-largest producer of copper, a world leader in the production of molybdenum, the largest producer of molybdenum-based chemicals and continuous-cast copper rod, and among the leading producers of magnet wire and carbon black. The company and its two divisions, Phelps Dodge Mining Company and Phelps Dodge Industries, employ more than 13,000 people in 27 countries.

Phelps Dodge Corporation

Phelps Dodge Corporation

Phelps Dodge Corp. is one of the world's leading producers of copper and molybdenum and is the largest producer of molybdenum-based chemicals and continuous-cast copper rod. The company employs 14,500 people worldwide. In 2005, Phelps Dodge produced about 2.5 billion pounds of copper and 62 million pounds of molybdenum. Two major projects on the horizon are the development of a copper mine in Safford, Ariz., and a copper/cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Phelps Dodge strives to create value for our communities, our employees and our businesses and to act as a catalyst for positive change in our operating communities through charitable giving, employee involvement and stakeholder engagement initiatives.

More from Phelps Dodge Corporation