Councilman Tony Avella To Hold Press Conference In Conjunction With Verizon Wireless' HopeLine®

WHAT:
Councilman Tony Avella will hold a press conference in conjunction with Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine® to announce the kickoff of a used cellphone collection drive at his district office to benefit families served by the New York City Family Justice Center (QFJC) in Queens.

HopeLine® is a phone recycling program exclusive to Verizon Wireless. The phones that are collected are refurbished, recycled or sold and the proceeds are donated to domestic violence advocacy groups in the form of cash grants and prepaid wireless phones for victims. Phones that cannot be refurbished are disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.

The New York City Family Justice Center in Queens (QFJC) is an initiative of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence in partnership with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and the Queens Borough President’s Office. The QFJC reduces barriers faced by victims of domestic violence by enabling them to access comprehensive services under one roof. Clients may walk in and choose the services they want, including counseling, advocacy, meeting with a prosecutor, shelter and housing assistance – all while their children play safely in the next room. The QFJC is the second Family Justice Center in New York City. The first Center opened in Brooklyn in July 2005 and has thus far assisted over 13,000 adult victims and their children.

During the month of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Councilman Avella invites his constituents to visit his district office and donate wireless phones, batteries and other accessories. HopeLine® will donate 50 HopeLine phones, with prepaid service, to Safe Horizon for use at the QFJC. These phones can serve as a vital link for domestic violence victims to emergency or support services in a time of crisis or as a reliable, safe connection to employers, family, and friends as survivors rebuild their lives.

WHEN:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 2 p.m.

WHERE:
Councilman Avella’s District Office located at 38-50 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 (The entrance is on 39th Avenue).

WHO:
Councilman Tony Avella
Mr. David Samberg, Community Relations Director for Verizon Wireless for the New York Metro Region
Ms. Alexandra Patino, Executive Director of the New York City Family Justice Center in Queens

Press, Radio, TV & Photo Coverage Requested

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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