Teens Made Aware Of Dating Violence Through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine Program

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Teen dating violence is a widespread and devastating problem - statistics show that one in three teenagers has experienced violence in a dating relationship*. During National Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness Week, HopeLine® pledges to continue its collaborative efforts to educate teens on dating violence.

As part of its HopeLine phone recycling program, Verizon Wireless works with local communities and agencies to reach out to teens and college-aged students to make them aware of the seriousness of teen dating violence, to give them information and to point them to sources for help. Over the past few years, HopeLine has partnered with local communities to present grants, implement campaigns and launch educational films and Web sites dedicated to teen awareness of domestic violence.

• Grants — In New York state, HopeLine presented a $1,250 grant to the Catholic Charities of Herkimer County, NY to fund educational programs to help raise awareness of dating violence and to educate teens and young adults about the warning signs of a potentially abusive relationship. HopeLine also presented a grant to the Northern Westchester Shelter to support the "Love Should Not Hurt" Teen Dating Abuse Summit at Pace University.
• Campaigns — In Wisconsin, Verizon Wireless and HopeLine launched a public awareness campaign with Milwaukee-area schools and local domestic violence agencies. The "Dating Should Not Hurt" campaign featured two partner abuse awareness posters that were distributed in high schools, school assemblies and community forums designed to address teen dating violence.
• Educational Films - With funding from HopeLine, Los Angeles' House of Hope released ¡UBICATE!^TM (Find Yourself!), the first educational short film in Spanish addressing the complex issues Latino teens face in developing healthy relationships. Copies of ¡UBÍCATE! are free to public schools and non-profit domestic violence prevention agencies.
• Web sites - Verizon Wireless and HopeLine created www.uhavetheright.net, a Web site dedicated to teen dating violence awareness. Information provided includes what to do if you are in an abusive relationship, facts and figures, interactive tests and information on healthy relationships.

"Domestic violence affects women and men of all ages, including teens," said Martha Delehanty, vice president of human resources at Verizon Wireless. "It is important to educate people when they are young about what goes in to a healthy relationship and to make them aware of the signs of a dangerous one. We're extremely proud that HopeLine has been a part of this educational process and we pledge to continue to work with the local agencies and businesses whose great work truly does help make a difference."

Verizon Wireless is a recognized corporate leader for its commitment to preventing domestic violence and raising awareness of the issue. The HopeLine program gives customers an environmentally safe option for disposing their no-longer-used wireless phones, while at the same time providing a simple way to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims.

HopeLine collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider, and then refurbishes the phones or recycles them in an environmentally safe 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.

Since 2001, consumers have donated more than 2.5 million phones to HopeLine and more than 500,000 phones have been recycled. Verizon Wireless has distributed nearly $2 million in HopeLine cash grants to local domestic violence prevention and awareness programs across the country. For more information on Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program or for instructions on donating a wireless phone, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

* 2002 US Department of Justice Survey

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 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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