Verizon Wireless, Women Against Abuse And The Philadelphia Flyers Join Forces To Combat Domestic Violence In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Verizon Wireless, Women Against Abuse and the Philadelphia Flyers will collect no-longer-used cellphones and equipment at the Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes game on Wednesday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Wachovia Center. Through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine^® program, the phones will be refurbished and recycled or sold. Proceeds from the donated items will be used to purchase wireless phones for use by domestic violence survivors in emergency situations. The HopeLine program also provides an environmentally friendly method for recycling no-longer-needed wireless phones.

Flyers fans can bring their wireless handset to the game and deposit it in the HopeLine collection bins in the Broad Street and 11th Street atriums and at VIP doors. Phones will be collected by volunteers from Women Against Abuse, a domestic abuse shelter in Philadelphia, from 6:00 p.m. until the start of the second period. Fans that donate a cellphone may receive a voucher for the chance to win an autographed Flyers stick and two passes to the post-game VIP area where they have the opportunity to meet Flyers players.

"We know we can count on our fans to bring their phones to the game and help provide a lifeline of safety and hope for victims of domestic abuse," said Shawn Tilger, Flyers vice president of Marketing and Communications. "We thank our fans in advance for their support of this important initiative."

The HopeLine wireless phone collection represents the most recent of several initiatives on which Verizon Wireless and the Philadelphia Flyers have partnered, including:

Sponsorship of the Verizon Wireless Mobile iNzone program, which lets customers sign up to receive exclusive Flyers news, TXT Message updates, video clips, Ring Tones and wallpaper sent to their wireless phones, directly from the team

Flyers participation in Verizon Wireless' annual "Packs for Pride" project, an initiative coordinated by local Verizon Wireless employees in the company's Philadelphia Region that provide backpacks filled with clothing, toys and other items to children living in domestic violence shelters and safe houses

Flyers home-game ticket donations to families throughout the region living in domestic violence shelters and safe houses

"HopeLine has made a tremendous difference for survivors of domestic violence and we applaud the Flyers continued support of the program," said Christine Baron, president of Verizon Wireless' Philadelphia Tri-State region. "We join the Flyers in encouraging the public to bring their no-longer-needed cell phones to the Wachovia Center on the 28th. Every phone we collect will help in the effort to prevent domestic violence."

In addition to turning unused wireless phones into support for survivors of domestic violence, Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program provides a "green" solution for the devices. More than 3.5 million phones have been collected through the program since 2001 and more than 200 tons of electronic waste has been kept out of landfills. Wireless phones, chargers and accessories from any service provider or manufacturer can be donated at any Verizon Wireless store. For store locations and additional information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

For tickets to the game, please call 1-800-298-4200 or visit www.philadelphiaflyers.com. For more information on the Philadelphia Flyers, visit www.philadelphiaflyers.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company 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.  

About the Philadelphia Flyers Organization
The Philadelphia Flyers and Phantoms (American Hockey League) are dedicated to improving the Greater Philadelphia Region, which has supported us so well over the years, through our leadership of and assistance with various community events and programs. The Community Relations and Fan Development departments focus their efforts on programs that assist in the development of positive growth of children, using the sport of hockey as the means to touch the lives of others. Specific community activities include hospital visits, youth hockey clinics, holiday volunteering, educational assemblies and seminars, and donations of autographed and promotional items to charitable organizations. With support from the entire Flyers and Phantoms organizations, we strive to make our community a better place to live.

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