Published 09-29-05
Submitted by Phelps Dodge Corporation
The recent grants are the culmination of a three-year commitment totaling $525,000 by the Phelps Dodge Foundation to address domestic violence.
"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 Klahr, executive director of Chrysalis Shelter in Phoenix. "We simply would not be able to provide the range of services for victims that make it possible for them to escape violence and rebuild safer lives without the support of organizations like the Phelps Dodge Foundation that have been willing to make a sustained commitment to this issue."
J. Steven Whisler, chairman and chief executive officer of Phelps Dodge Corp., said: "Businesses and other organizations have a responsibility to address domestic violence and other safety issues concerning the family. There are both ethical and 'bottom line' reasons to take action. 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 violence."
According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, nearly one third of American women report being physically abused by a husband or boyfriend some time in their lives, making domestic violence a concern for every employer.
Phelps Dodge's safety philosophy is captured in its Zero and Beyond program that recognizes "zero" as the only acceptable goal for accidents and unsafe incidents - at work, 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.
Organizations receiving support include eight shelters in Maricopa County, seven elsewhere in Arizona, 15 in other states, and two outside the United States.
Receiving grants in Maricopa County are:
Phelps Dodge Corp. is one of the world's leading producers of copper and 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 Co. and Phelps Dodge Industries, employ approximately 15,000 people worldwide.
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.
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