Sold! Hundreds Raised From First Ever 'HopeLine Online Phone Auction' Of Celebrity-Autographed Phones

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Six lucky fans bid the highest amount of money and won their very own celebrity-autographed phone from Verizon Wireless during the first ever 'HopeLine® Online Phone Auction' held on eBay from Oct. 31 — Nov. 9. By auctioning off these one-of-a-kind phones autographed by celebrities Michael Bolton, Meredith Vieira and others, Verizon Wireless raised nearly $1000, and the company will donate 100 percent of these funds to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Because of the success of this first auction, Verizon Wireless is planning to hold future auctions featuring the latest handsets signed by more celebrities.

The Verizon Wireless 'HopeLine Online Phone Auction' was just one way the company seeks to raise awareness about domestic violence and provide support to those working to prevent it. Across the country over the past several months, Verizon Wireless has:

• Collected more than 1,000 phones from fans during a recent Buffalo Bills professional football game;
• Partnered with Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann who issued a proclamation on October 14 calling on the community to collect used wireless phones for HopeLine; 
• Supported the Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women with a $50,000 grant toward its programs for women, children and men, outreach to the entertainment industry and the presentation of a Verizon Wireless HopeLine Award to a company that shares our commitment to domestic violence prevention;
• Teamed with the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence on a Public Awareness Campaign called, "There is No Excuse" that included public service announcements featuring prominent college football coaches in the state; 
• Launched a campaign with Kentucky's Lieutenant Governor to encourage HopeLine phone collections and bring attention to the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault; 
• Joined with Attorneys General in Virginia and Maryland this month to award $30,000 in HopeLine grants, funding projects including legal assistance for domestic violence victims, transportation enabling victims to reach shelters safely, announcements for local movie theaters on how victims can get help, and more.

Verizon Wireless is a recognized corporate leader in domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. The company works to prevent domestic violence and raise awareness of the issue through the HopeLine program. HopeLine, currently in its 10th year, collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider, and then refurbishes the phones or recycles them in an environmentally friendly way. Proceeds from the HopeLine program benefit victims of domestic violence and non-profit advocacy agencies, providing essential communication tools of wireless phones and wireless services, and financial grants.

For more information on Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program or for instructions on donating a wireless phone, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

HopeLine donations are accepted and Verizon Wireless products and services are available at more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless stores across the country and at Circuit City locations nationwide. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 49.3 million voice and data 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 preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

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