Verizon Wireless Sponsors Annual Family Violence Prevention Fund Conference

BEDMINSTER, NJ and BOSTON, MA — Verizon Wireless is sponsoring the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) Annual Conference, October 21-23, 2004 in Boston. As part of its community service efforts during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the company is showcasing its regional programs and other activities from across the country, and illustrating how corporate resources can help the community. Verizon Wireless will also hold a wireless phone recycling drive during the conference as part of its HopeLine^SM phone recycling program, which turns used phones into lifelines for domestic violence victims.

The Verizon Wireless booth highlights community programs from across the nation that have helped raise awareness, educate and involve communities in domestic violence prevention, including:

• Raising Awareness — Verizon Wireless' Clothesline Project, a traveling exhibit featuring clothing decorated by survivors of domestic violence situations, provides a powerful visual about the damaging effects domestic violence has on families.
• Promoting Education — Verizon Wireless has created educational workshops, videos and other materials to help educate those affected by domestic violence, including victims, families and employers. A sampling of these materials, including a new hour-long video program titled "None of Our Business," created to increase awareness of domestic violence in the workplace, will be on display at the booth.
• Involving the Community — Verizon Wireless works with local companies and organizations to help improve the community and reach out to those in need with phone drives, educational workshops and other programs. Conference attendees can sign up at the booth to get their communities or companies involved with a phone drive or to learn how to become a recipient of HopeLine phones and funding.

As part of its commitment to the community, Verizon Wireless makes financial grants to regional and national domestic violence organizations, such as the Family Violence Prevention Fund and other national and community interest groups.

In addition, Verizon Wireless' HopeLine phone recycling program offers consumers a simple way to help domestic violence victims in their communities. HopeLine collects no-longer-used wireless phones and equipment in any condition from any carrier. The used phones are refurbished, recycled or sold. With the funds raised from the sale of the refurbished phones, Verizon Wireless donates wireless phones with airtime, as well as monetary and other contributions to domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country. Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than two million wireless phones for recycling.

Donations are accepted at all 1,200-plus Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country or can be sent to:

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

For additional information about Verizon Wireless' philanthropic efforts, visit 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 40.4 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.  To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.

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