Your Spring Cleaning In The New York Area Can Give Someone Else A Fresh Start

ROCHESTER, NY — Whether you've started your spring cleaning or not, you're probably still wondering what to do with any old wireless phones lying around your house.  There is a better solution than letting them collect dust in your basement.  Verizon Wireless' HopeLine^SM program gives you the reason to brush off that dust and help revitalize more than just your home.             

Through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used wireless phones and equipment to be refurbished, recycled or sold and then uses the proceeds to purchase wireless phones for victims of domestic violence or to support domestic violence prevention organizations nationwide.  Those phones can be a valuable lifeline to help for domestic violence victims who find themselves in a threatening situation.  Furthermore, HopeLine provides a much-needed, environmentally friendly method for recycling wireless phones, keeping tons of electronics waste out of our landfills.            

"After a long, grueling winter in Upstate New York, spring cleaning allows people to refresh and begin anew," said John Palmer, president of Verizon Wireless' Upstate New York Region. "HopeLine is an easy way for community-minded citizens to support local domestic violence organizations as they help abused women start over as well.  Domestic violence is all around us in places most of us would never imagine.  Citizens who support the program could very well be helping their own friends or neighbors."

Verizon Wireless' 44 Communications Stores throughout Upstate New York serve as drop-off locations for wireless phones of any brand, from any carrier and in any condition.       

The company's HopeLine program was created in 1995 to put wireless products and services to work to combat domestic violence. Since then, Verizon Wireless has collected more than one million wireless phones from consumers and also donated more than $1 million in monetary and other contributions to domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country.   Through these programs, the company delivers free voicemail boxes, facilitates free seminars to help prepare women for employment and also sponsors the HopeLine Cycling Team, a professional women's cycling team that donates its winnings to HopeLine-related organizations.

Wireless phones and equipment donations are tax deductible and can be sent to:

Verizon Wireless HopeLine
c/o ReCellular Inc.
2555 Bishop Circle W.
Dexter, MI 48130

For more information about HopeLine, customers can call 1-800-426-2790 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Saturday and between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Customers can also visit the web site at http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.                                                                        

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.

About HopeLine
Verizon Wireless encourages customers who are upgrading their wireless phone to participate in its exclusive HopeLine phone recycling program. The national HopeLine program distributes previously owned wireless phones to victims of domestic violence, supports non-profit domestic violence advocacy groups and provides an environmentally safe method of recycling phones. Donations are accepted at all 1,200-plus Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For additional information, customers can also visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.     

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