Verizon Wireless Combats Domestic Violence On Two Ashville-Area College Campuses

Greenville, S.C. — As part of October's Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless communications provider, has donated five wireless phones to both Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Warren Wilson College. The phones, which are pre-programmed to dial 911, are intended to combat the threat of rape, attempted rape or dating violence.

"Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is grateful for the donation made by Verizon Wireless," said Barry Landsberg, director of security at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. "For students who have fallen victim to domestic violence, the wireless phones will offer a sense of security, while providing them with both a portable and tamper-proof lifeline at the touch of a button."

"We realize domestic violence is a reality in homes, workplaces, and on college campuses," said Jerry Fountain, regional president - Carolinas. "Victims of this type of violence are vulnerable to attack wherever they go. Because landline phones are not always readily available, Verizon Wireless is proud to donate wireless phones that will provide victims a sense of security."

To date, Verizon Wireless has donated 100 wireless phones to 10 colleges and universities in North Carolina. Colleges and universities that have received phones include: Appalachian State University; Duke University; High Point University; North Carolina State University in Raleigh; University of North Carolina-Asheville; University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; University of North Carolina-Charlotte; University of North Carolina- Greensboro; Wake Forest University; and Western Carolina University.

These donations are all part of the company's "Wireless at Work" community service program. Since 1995, the company has donated more than 450 phones and airtime and 600 HopeLine® voice mail boxes in the Carolinas Region. These phones and voice mail boxes aid victims of domestic violence and are used by homeless shelters and neighborhood watch programs.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with 26.3 million wireless voice and data customers and 3.5 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp - now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 32,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web at: http://www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter/index.shtml

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