Georgians Urged To Donate Old Cell Phones To Help Local Victims Of Domestic Violence

ALPHARETTA, GA — During the next 30-minutes, approximately 200 women in Georgia will be beaten by someone they love. In recognition of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Verizon Wireless is continuing its efforts to help victims of domestic violence in Georgia and encouraging residents to donate any no-longer-used cell phone to the company’s HopeLine® program. Wireless phones, batteries and accessories, in any condition from any wireless service provider, can be donated at any Verizon Wireless retail location statewide.

The company also recently announced that through their partnership with the Atlanta Falcons Verizon Wireless volunteers will be at the HopeLine Tent at Falcons Landing collecting fans’ no-longer-used phones for the following Atlanta Falcons home football games: September 21, 2008 against Kansas City, October 12, 2008 against Chicago Bears, November 9, 2008 against New Orleans Saints and December 14, 2008 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Verizon Wireless is a recognized corporate leader in the ongoing domestic violence awareness campaign. Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program turns unused wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence. Phones are refurbished or recycled, and funds are used to purchase new wireless phones with airtime for victims or used to fund prevention and awareness programs.

“Last year, Georgians donated more than 18,000 phones for HopeLine, which equals thousands of minutes of freedom for domestic violence victims right here in Georgia,” said Jeff Mango, President of the GA/AL region for Verizon Wireless. “We are asking all Georgians to dig through their junk drawers and donate no longer used wireless phones to assist victims of domestic violence. Wireless phones and technology can serve as a vital link 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.”

For more than a decade, Verizon Wireless has been committed to raising awareness of domestic violence and working to prevent it. Verizon Wireless collected its first used wireless phone through HopeLine in 2001and recently passed the 5 million phones collected mark. That is one phone for every person in Metro Atlanta. HopeLine has provided wireless phones with the equivalent of 180 million minutes of service and cash grants totaling more than $5.6 million to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness. Verizon Wireless has worked with the following organizations, among many others, to execute HopeLine Phone Drives: UPS, The Atlanta Falcons, Georgia Tech, Brenau University, Partnership Against Domestic Violence, Glenn County Community Crisis Center and the Fitzgerald County 4-H Club.

In times of danger, Verizon Wireless encourages any victim or anyone looking for information on the issue to dial #HOPE (#4673) from any Verizon Wireless phone. Callers will be instantly connected to the National Domestic Violence Hotline for professional and confidential help. The call is toll and airtime free. The Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can provide its services in more than 140 languages.

A few facts about domestic violence:

• Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in the United States - more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.
• Georgia ranks seventh in the nation in the rate of women killed by men.
• The costs to U.S. businesses of intimate partner violence exceed $5.8 billion each year in absenteeism, lower productivity, turnover and safety costs - $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health care services.
• Domestic violence claims at least eight million workdays each year, or the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs.

Wireless phones and equipment can be donated to the HopeLine program year-round at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store across the country. For more information, 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 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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