Verizon Wireless Offers Environmentally Safe and Charitable Solution for No-Longer-Used Wireless Devices

CINCINNATI, OH — Thousands of gadget lovers in Ohio will receive new wireless handsets and accessories as gifts this holiday season. Rather than storing their no-longer-used wireless equipment in a closet, on a basement shelf, or in a "junk drawer" to collect dust or, worse, throwing it away, individuals can donate their old devices to Verizon Wireless' HopeLine® program.

Marking its 10th year, the award-winning HopeLine program puts wireless products and services to work to combat domestic violence and raise awareness of the issue. Through HopeLine, the company collects no-longer-used wireless handsets and equipment from any vendor. Most of the donated handsets and equipment are refurbished and sold, with proceeds going to support domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. Any remaining phones are recycled in an environmentally safe way.

"The holidays are an important time to remember to give back to the community and help those who are less fortunate," said Roger Tang, president—Ohio/Pennsylvania Region, Verizon Wireless. "Donating an old phone to HopeLine can make a big difference in helping save the lives of domestic violence victims, while responsibly recycling phones you no longer use."

From January 2005 to October 2005, HopeLine has:

• collected more than 680,000 wireless phones;
• delivered nearly $550,000 in grants to domestic violence organizations;
• recycled more than 185,000 of the collected phones in an environmentally safe way, with the remainder being refurbished and resold to generate funds for grants.

This year in Ohio, Verizon Wireless donated more than $85,000 and hundreds of handsets with free airtime to domestic violence organizations across the state. Wireless handsets and accessories can be donated at any of the more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For more information about HopeLine, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

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, N.J., 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 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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