Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine® Program Places 80,000th Phone In The Hands Of A Domestic Violence Victim

Well-Established Program Turns Old Phones Into Potential Lifelines for Victims.

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless’ long-standing commitment to domestic violence prevention began in 1995 when the HopeLine® program was created. Now, more than a decade later, HopeLine has donated its 80,000th refurbished phone with service to a domestic violence shelter for use by a victim of abuse rebuilding her life.

(Image Caption: HopeLine, Verizon Wireless’ phone recycling and reuse program, donated its 80,000th refurbished phone with service to the 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc., a regional agency in North Carolina serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault. The phone will be used by a victim of abuse rebuilding her life. Victim Advocate Karen Arias is pictured as she prepares a HopeLine phone for use by a domestic violence victim.)

The 80,000th phone was provided to the 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance, Inc., a regional agency in North Carolina serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault.

“We represent a seven-county rural, mountainous region in western North Carolina. Isolation and travel barriers inherent in the region often make it very difficult for a victim of domestic violence and abuse to get help. The HopeLine program has created a lifeline for many victims,” said Denise Coleman, executive director of the 30th Judicial District Domestic Violence-Sexual Assault Alliance. “Distribution of the donated HopeLine phones through service agencies, and especially through our domestic violence programs and shelters, has made it possible for victims who didn’t have phones to retain contact with services and support and to know that help is just a phone call away. In a world of fear and violence, having a way to communicate is reassuring to victims and can, in fact, help to save their lives.”

HopeLine phones include 3,000 anytime minutes with calling features, including Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, 3-Way Calling, Caller ID and Basic Voice Mail. As with all Verizon Wireless phones, individuals can dial #HOPE to connect with the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Non-profit organizations interested in participating in the HopeLine program should use the Contact Us form available at http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/hopelineContactUs.html.

The generosity of consumers nationwide has enabled Verizon Wireless to provide these 80,000 phones – along with nearly $7 million in grants – to domestic violence victims and non-profit advocacy organizations that promote domestic violence prevention. Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used phones at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores or by mail through its HopeLine program. Since 2001, when phone recycling and reuse became key elements of HopeLine, wireless customers have donated nearly 6.5 million old phones to the program.

For additional information about HopeLine or to learn how to donate a phone using a postage-paid mailing label, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.