Baltimore Police Department Recycles Wireless Phones to Aid Baltimore Domestic Violence Victims

To: BUSINESS EDITORS

Contact: Sherri Cunningham, +1-202-364-5856, John Johnson, +1- 240-568-1429, john.h.Johnson@verizonwireless.com, both of Verizon Wireless

LAUREL, Md., April 26 /PRNewswire/ — The annual commemoration of Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 22 – 28, takes on added significance as the nation mourns those who died in last week’s tragedy at Virginia Tech. To honor victims closer to home, the Baltimore Police Department is donating approximately 300 no-longer- used wireless phones to the Verizon Wireless HopeLine(R) phone- recycling program and, in turn, Verizon Wireless is donating $2,500 to the Women’s Law Center of Maryland.

The nonprofit Baltimore-based Women’s Law Center has worked for 35 years to protect and preserve women’s rights, and Verizon Wireless’ donation will be used to support its Protection Order Advocacy and Representation Project (POARP), which provides representation to victims of domestic violence in protective court hearings in Baltimore City’s Circuit Court. POARP attorneys work with clients who have been abused by an intimate partner — a former or current boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse.

“Crime Victims’ Rights Week is a perfect opportunity to make this contribution to the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm. “All too often our officers are called upon to respond to domestic violence incidents, and we’re very gratified that the phones we’ve recycled will help victims and raise awareness of domestic violence and its consequences at home and in the workplace.”

Verizon Wireless Regional President Tami Erwin said, “As we learn time and time again, we often reach for our phones in an emergency or time of crisis for help or comfort. Wireless phones help to provide that same sense of comfort and, more importantly — security — to victims of domestic violence. We’re proud that the Baltimore Police donation will support the work of another organization helping to provide victims with a lifeline.”

Verizon Wireless’ work with regional law enforcement and government agencies supporting violence prevention and awareness efforts includes: donating high-speed BroadbandAccess Internet service to victim service providers and personnel in local domestic violence units; sponsoring phone collection drives with local sheriff and police departments; and creating a victim assistance fund in honor of former Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr.

Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program collects no-longer-used wireless phones to be refurbished, recycled or sold; proceeds are donated to domestic violence advocacy groups or used to purchase wireless phones with airtime for use by victims. Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected three million wireless phones at stores around the country and in special collections organized for interested businesses, law enforcement agencies and civic groups.

Through its HopeLine program, the company has donated more than $3 million in cash grants and more than 40,000 phones with airtime, a contribution valued at more than $10 million.

Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program accepts all wireless phone models, batteries and chargers from any carrier. Phones are accepted for recycling in 1,900 Verizon Wireless Communications stores across the country. For store locations and additional information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD, London). 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

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