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New School Year, New Phone and a Great Way to Assist Domestic Violence Victims

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 09:00 CDT

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Now that the back to school shopping frenzy has begun, students who plan to include a new wireless phone on this year's shopping list don't have to worry about what to do with their old wireless phones. Rather than tossing their no-longer used phones in a closet, drawer or trash can, Verizon Wireless encourages students to donate them to the company's HopeLine(R) program, which recycles and refurbishes wireless phones to help victims of domestic violence.

HopeLine collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider, and then refurbishes the phones or recycles them in an environmentally sound way. Proceeds from the HopeLine program benefit victims of domestic violence and non-profit advocacy agencies, providing essential communication tools of wireless phones and wireless services, and financial grants.

Victims of domestic violence are not always adults -- teen dating violence is a widespread and devastating problem. Approximately one in five high school students report being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner and one in three teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner*. Donating a no longer used wireless phone to HopeLine is an easy way for students to support organizations that are committed to preventing domestic violence.

Students, graduates and any family member can donate their wireless phones and accessories at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store across the country. If students can't make it to a store, phones and accessories can also be sent to:

Verizon Wireless HopeLine c/o ReCellular Inc. 2555 Bishop Circle W. Dexter, MI 48130

Verizon Wireless is a recognized corporate leader for its commitment to preventing domestic violence and raising awareness of the issue. Since 2001, consumers have donated nearly three million phones to HopeLine with more than 600,000 donated phones being recycled. Verizon Wireless has distributed nearly $10 million in cash grants and wireless service to domestic violence prevention and awareness programs across the country.

To learn more about HopeLine, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline. * Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005. About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 54.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Media, Debra Lewis of Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7512,Debra.Lewis@verizonwireless.com

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline

Source: PRNewswire

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