Verizon Wireless Donates Six Phones to Caring for Kids

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Verizon Wireless has donated six wireless phones to Caring for Kids, a nonprofit group that offers parenting classes, community outreach and in-home visitation and support to families in Cape May and other southern NJ counties. The donation was made possible through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine^SM Program, which uses wireless technology and financial resources for domestic violence prevention and education, the company's chief community service focus.

As a Family Center dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, Caring for Kids works with many children and families from domestic violence situations, which are known to put children at greater risk of mistreatment. Caring for Kids employees will use the phones to communicate with families, community colleagues and their main office as they go into the homes of the families they serve.

According to Suzanne Conrad, Executive Director, "Verizon Wireless' much needed wireless phones have made it possible for our staff to better serve our families, providing hope for women at-risk, preventing child abuse and neglect through the empowerment of all parents to care for themselves and their children, and to promote strong, safe and nurturing parent-child relationships."

Through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless provides free wireless phones and/or voicemail boxes to victims residing in shelters and emergency phones to law enforcement agencies to distribute to women at risk. Phones collected through HopeLine are refurbished for donation to domestic violence victims, recycled or sold, with proceeds used to benefit nonprofit domestic violence organizations through the purchase of wireless phones and/or monetary contributions.

According to Christine Baron, president of Verizon Wireless' Philadelphia Tri-State Region, "This wireless phone donation will make it easier for Caring for Kids employees to communicate with their colleagues and quickly respond to families in need."

Area residents interested in helping victims of domestic violence may donate their no-longer-used wireless phones at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store. As a result of HopeLine and related phone recycling programs the company has organized since 1995, Verizon Wireless has collected over one million used wireless phones for the benefit of domestic violence victims and advocacy 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 34.6 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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