Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chapter Of Noble Collects 1,100 Wireless Phones To Support Verizon Wireless' HopeLine Program

WARRENDALE, PA — The Pittsburgh chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) collected 1,100 wireless phones, more than any other NOBLE chapter and nearly one-third the national total during the agency’s third annual phone drive. The phone drive supports Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine® phone recycling program, and all of the phones donated will be turned into support for domestic violence victims.

Detective Jill Smallwood-Rustin of the Pittsburgh chapter of NOBLE coordinated the collections for the Pittsburgh chapter, contacting multiple property forfeiture units, chapter members and other personnel at the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s offices to obtain phones.

“We want to thank the Pittsburgh Chapter of NOBLE, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s offices for their extraordinary commitment to domestic violence prevention,” said Roger Tang, president–Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless. “Verizon Wireless is proud to partner with NOBLE for the annual phone drive, and we look forward to continuing our work with this organization.”

NOBLE chapters across the country collected a total of 3,200 no-longer-used cell phones, all of which have been donated to Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program and will be provided to participating domestic violence agencies and organizations nationwide, for use by victims and survivors as they rebuild their lives. The Pittsburgh chapter will be recognized for its efforts at NOBLE’s Annual Training Conference and Exhibition this summer, to be sponsored in part by Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless recently honored two NOBLE chapters–Georgia and South Florida–with HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Awards for their commitments to reducing domestic violence, providing support to victims, raising awareness of the issue and educating communities about domestic violence.

Verizon Wireless, a corporate leader in domestic violence prevention, works to end domestic violence and raise awareness of the issue through the company’s HopeLine program. HopeLine collects wireless phones and accessories from any service provider, and then refurbishes the phones or recycles them in an environmentally sound way. Proceeds from the HopeLine program benefit victims of domestic violence and non-profit advocacy agencies, providing the essential communication tools of wireless phones and service.

Wireless phones and equipment can be donated to the HopeLine program year-round at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store or by mail using a postage-paid mailing label. For additional information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NASDAQ and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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 NOBLE
The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) serves as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to justice by action. NOBLE represents over 3,000 members nationwide, primarily African-American chief executive officers of law enforcement agencies at federal, state, county and municipal levels, other law enforcement administrators, and criminal justice practitioners (http://www.noblenational.org/).  

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