Verizon Wireless' Local Efforts Add Up To Powerful Domestic Violence Awareness, Prevention Campaign

BEDMINSTER, NJ —
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In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, Verizon Wireless is leading efforts nationwide to fight domestic violence through its wireless technology and to boost awareness of this national epidemic. A recognized corporate leader in the fight against domestic violence, Verizon Wireless this year alone has donated more than 3,000 wireless phones with airtime and more than $350,000 in monetary and other donations to domestic violence programs.

This month, the company also is stepping up grass-roots activities for employees and the communities it serves. These range from sponsoring used phone drives and fundraising walks for domestic violence shelters; to distributing purple ribbons to employees and customers in remembrance of victims; to producing billboards and public service announcements in cities across the country to promote domestic violence awareness.

Specific examples of the company's commitment to this issue in cities across the country:

• Phone recycling drives at hundreds of company locations for its HopeLineSM donation program will put wireless technology into the hands of victims to use in emergencies.
• In Central Texas, a Verizon Wireless Communications Store will hold a candlelight vigil for the community to remember its victims of domestic violence.
• In San Francisco, the company is making a donation of $23,000 to domestic violence awareness and prevention programs and is donating [FREEUP] prepaid calling packages to three shelters - a pilot program that will bring valuable communications resources to victims.
• In Indiana, the company is helping a local shelter create a mosaic that represents the emotions of domestic violence, with the goal of making the mosaic a traveling exhibit.
• In New York City and the surrounding area, the company is sponsoring "Invest in Yourself" seminars to assist victims with resume writing and job interview skills.
• At Tennessee's Vanderbilt University, the company is sponsoring a "Take Back the Night" self-defense class to arm women with the skills they need to avert an attacker.
• In Honolulu, domestic violence awareness posters are being displayed in 500 city buses, courtesy of Verizon Wireless and the City and County of Honolulu, to encourage victims to seek assistance by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
• In Minnesota, the company is sponsoring a statewide radio and billboard public service campaign for the Minnesota Domestic Violence Crisis Line, a toll-free number that connects battered women to a nearby shelter with just one call. Since its launch one year ago, this crisis line has served more than 2,000 battered women throughout the state.
• At corporate headquarters in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is collecting phones from its employees for its HopeLineSM program, while it is also holding a "Dress for Success" clothing drive.

Verizon Wireless is a founding participant in the Family Violence Prevention Fund's Corporate Citizenship Initiative (CCI), a first-of-its-kind national project that develops workplace-based programs to stop domestic violence. With the CCI, Verizon Wireless sponsored the creation of workplace education posters to further the message that domestic violence is a business issue. Since 1999, more than 30,000 posters have been distributed to companies across the country.

"Domestic violence is an epidemic that has year-round impact on friends, neighbors and co-workers, as well as on our businesses, which is why we've identified it as our primary philanthropic focus," said Denny Strigl, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless. "The innovative efforts of Verizon Wireless employees this October will contribute greatly to our ongoing national campaign."

Reporters and editors can find more information about local Verizon Wireless initiatives on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 28.7 million wireless voice and data customers. The coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD), including Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless and PrimeCo Personal Communications. Verizon Wireless has a footprint covering more than 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 97 of the top 100 U.S. markets. The company, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 40,000 employees strong.

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