Verizon Wireless And The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers Team Up To Provide A Lifeline For Domestic Violence Victims

Wireless Phone Drive to be Held Jan. 31, at the Arena.

MILWAUKEE, WI — Verizon Wireless and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Panthers are teaming up to help curb domestic violence in Milwaukee. Fans attending the UWM Men’s Basketball game versus the University of Illinois Chicago on Saturday, Jan. 31, are invited to donate no-longer used wireless handsets and accessories from any wireless provider to benefit victims of domestic violence through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine® program. Volunteers will collect donated phones and equipment at the two main stairways inside the Arena from 6 p.m. until game time at 7 p.m.

Through its award-winning HopeLine program, Verizon Wireless turns no-longer used wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence, including those in Wisconsin. Wireless phones, batteries and other accessories are collected at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide and during special collections throughout the year. The phones are either refurbished for reuse or recycled in an environmentally sound way.

“By donating no-longer-used wireless handsets, fans can help aide victims of domestic violence—an issue that affects more than 30 percent of American women during their lifetime,” said T.J. Fox, president-Wisconsin/Illinois region, Verizon Wireless.

Since 2001, HopeLine’s national phone recycling and reuse program has collected more than 5.6 million wireless phones and awarded more than $6.3 million cash grants to domestic violence agencies and organizations throughout the country. By the end of 2008, 76,000 phones with more than 228 million minutes of free wireless service were donated to victims of domestic violence.

Fans unable to attend the game on Jan. 31 can still participate in the phone drive by donating their no-longer-used phones at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store at any time. To find the store closest to you, visit www.verizonwireless.com.