Verizon Wireless Teams Up With Tri-City ValleyCats To Help End Domestic Violence In New York

ALBANY, NY — Verizon Wireless and the Tri-City ValleyCats will collect no-longer-used wireless phones to benefit survivors of domestic violence at this Wednesday's Going Green Night game vs. the Hudson Valley Renegades. Through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine® program, these phones will be refurbished and recycled or sold. Proceeds will be used to purchase wireless phones to be used by domestic violence survivors in emergency or threatening situations and to help them locate housing, employment and child care as they escape the cycle of violence. HopeLine also makes financial grants to domestic violence organizations. For every 10 wireless phones collected at Wednesday's game, the company will donate one phone to the Unity House of Troy's Domestic Violence Program, with a minimum of 20 phones pledged. Fans are encouraged to bring their old wireless phones to the game and deposit them in collection bins as they enter the stadium. The first 50 fans who donate a phone will receive two tickets to a future ValleyCats game. The game starts at 7:00 p.m.

"By doing something as simple as donating a wireless phone you no longer use, you can truly make a difference for a victim of domestic violence," said Marquett Smith, president of Verizon Wireless' Upstate New York region. "HopeLine focuses on helping our communities prevent domestic violence, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to use wireless technology for this important purpose."

Verizon Wireless, a recognized corporate leader in the fight against domestic violence, works to combat domestic violence and raise awareness of the issue through the company's HopeLine program. Marking its 13th year in 2008, HopeLine today 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. Phone donations are accepted at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For additional information, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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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