Verizon Wireless and General Electric Team Up to Help Domestic Violence Victims

BEDMINSTER, NJ — In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, GE Elfun Volunteers, a global organization of GE employees and retirees committed to improving the community through volunteerism, leadership, and camaraderie, joined with Verizon Wireless to encourage GE's employees nationwide to donate their no-longer-used wireless phones to HopeLine^SM, Verizon Wireless' phone donation program that benefits domestic violence victims. After six short weeks, GE employees have donated more than 5,000 wireless phones. Beginning March 24, 2003 — and coinciding with National Volunteer Week — the collaboration kicked off with the placement of special posters throughout U.S. GE facilities to educate its 315,000 employees about domestic violence prevention and to encourage them to donate their used wireless phones. Following the success of this first phone drive, GE plans to hold another drive during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October 2003).

Verizon Wireless' national HopeLine phone recycling program collects previously owned wireless handsets from any carrier to be refurbished and recycled or sold, with proceeds going to fund non-profit agencies and to purchase phones for victims of domestic violence.

"For more than eight years, we have dedicated our resources and wireless technology to the issue of domestic violence, and we have made great progress. Our recent project with GE Elfun Volunteers has furthered our goals to encourage other corporations to get involved and put the strength of their employees behind a very worthy cause," said Denny Strigl, president and CEO, Verizon Wireless. "We applaud GE Elfun on the great success they've had with their first phone drive. This joint effort reached a new donor audience, and we hope it will encourage employees at other corporations to get involved in the prevention of domestic violence."

"Verizon Wireless' dedication to the domestic violence cause and the success of its HopeLine program are an inspiration for other companies to follow. We are thrilled to put our influence and size to work to help create a better community," said David Warshaw, executive director, GE Elfun Volunteers. "This collaboration shows the difference socially responsible companies can make when they work together." For more information on GE Elfun Volunteers, visit www.elfun.org. For more information about HopeLine, call 1-800-426-2790 or visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  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

As part of its domestic violence awareness community outreach efforts, Verizon Wireless 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.

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 33.3 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 GE Elfun Volunteers
GE Elfun Volunteers (www.elfun.org) is a global organization of GE employee and retirees dedicated to helping people in more than 130 communities around the world.

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