Verizon Wireless Donates Vital Communications To Massachusetts Jewish Family And Children's Service

WOBURN, MA — Verizon Wireless today is donating 20 wireless phones to Kol Isha, a program of Jewish Family and Children's Service (JF&CS), which supports victims at risk of domestic violence. The phones were donated as a part of the company's national HopeLineSM program, which distributes previously owned wireless phones to victims of domestic violence, supports non-profit domestic violence advocacy groups and provides an environmentally friendly method of recycling phones.

At the center of HopeLine is a phone-recycling program. Verizon Wireless' 1,300 stores throughout the nation serve as drop-off locations for wireless phones (any brand, any carrier) that are no longer in use. These phones are then refurbished, recycled or sold for parts. Proceeds are then used to benefit non-profit domestic violence organizations through the purchase of wireless phones and/or monetary contributions. Wireless phones provide victims of domestic violence with a means to call for help in a threatening situation with an abuser. Jewish Family and Children's Service continues to collect these phones as well, and will continue to donate them to HopeLine.

"When in crisis, a wireless phone can become the lifeline necessary to reach emergency help or support required by victims, which adds a layer of safety for our clients," Nicole Lesser, Kol Isha coordinator. "We are grateful to Verizon Wireless for their donation of phones for use by victims in our domestic violence program."

Kol Isha, Hebrew for "a woman's voice," is a social service program that was created to ensure a comprehensive, culturally and religiously sensitive system of care is available to all Jewish victims of domestic violence.

Kol Isha, through its work at JF&CS, within the Jewish community, and with secular domestic violence agencies, provides victims with support services that are both free and confidential. The range of services provided by Kol Isha include, domestic violence counseling services, family assistance, spiritual support and community outreach and education training programs. More information on Kol Isha can be found at www.jscfboston.org ; or by calling 617-558-1278.

Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program also makes financial grants to regional and national domestic violence organizations, such as the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other select community interest groups. As a result of HopeLine and related phone recycling programs the company has organized since 1995, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 850,000 used wireless phones for the benefit of domestic violence victims and advocacy groups. Since the HopeLine phone-recycling program launched nationwide in October, 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 477,000 phones.

"HopeLine was put in place to assist all domestic violence programs that serve the communities in which we operate," said Bob Stott, president of the New England Region for Verizon Wireless. "Our ultimate goal is to give support to all nationwide community outreach programs that provide positive networks and resources for victims of domestic violence. While we invest in the HopeLine program each day alongside shelters, advocates and program members, community residents can also get involved by recycling no longer used wireless phones to the HopeLine program."

Local MA-based Verizon Wireless Communications Stores/Drop Off Points
Boston, MA 745 Boylston Street 617-266-9000
Boston, MA 101 Arch Street 617-946-0500
Everett, MA 25 Mystic View Place (Gateway Centre) 617-780-6898

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 32.5 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.

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