Verizon Wireless And The Green Bay Packers Continue Season-Long Partnership To Provide A HopeLine For Domestic Violence Victims In Wisconsin

GREEN BAY, WI — Protection is the Name of the Game, a partnership between Verizon Wireless and the Green Bay Packers designed to help curb domestic violence in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, continues with the Packers’ game versus the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Oct. 24. All fans attending the game are invited to donate no-longer-used wireless handsets and accessories from any wireless provider. Their donations will go to the HopeLine® from Verizon program to directly benefit victims of domestic violence in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Volunteers will be accepting donated phones and equipment at each of the five Lambeau Field entrances from 5 p.m. until game time at 7:30 p.m.

Fans can donate phones for HopeLine at all Packers games at Lambeau Field this season. For each phone collected, Verizon Wireless will donate $10 to a local domestic violence shelter. Each week, a different domestic violence shelter will benefit. All wireless phones donated at the Oct. 24 game will go to benefit the Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee.

“The support of organizations like Verizon Wireless is invaluable,” said Angela Mancuso, executive director, Sojourner Family Peace Center. “Domestic violence is a very real and pervasive problem. With the help of the HopeLine program, and from donations from Packers fans, we are able to continue to serve our community and to serve those who need our help in times of true emergency.”

Through its award-winning HopeLine program, Verizon Wireless turns no-longer-used wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence. Wireless phones, batteries and other accessories are collected at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide and in special collections throughout the year. The phones are either refurbished for reuse or recycled in an environmentally sound way.

“By donating no-longer-used wireless handsets, Packer fans can help provide hope to victims of domestic violence – an issue affecting more than 30 percent of American women during their lifetime,” said T.J. Fox, president-Wisconsin/Illinois Region, Verizon Wireless. “Packers’ fans have always come through for us in the past, and I know that this year won’t be an exception.”

“The Packers are pleased to partner with Verizon on this HopeLine initiative and provide an opportunity for fans to support domestic violence victims in their community,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “We’re asking all fans to dig through their closets, ask their friends and family members for their used phones and accessories, and donate as many phones as possible on Oct. 24 and on subsequent weeks.”

Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 7 million wireless phones, awarded more than $7.9 million in cash grants to domestic violence organizations throughout the country and by the end of this year, will have donated more than 90,000 HopeLine phones with 300 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations.

Fans unable to attend the Oct. 24, game can still participate by donating their no-longer-used phones at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store at any time. To find the store closest to you, visit www.verizonwireless.com.  

Stay in the know about Verizon Wireless news in the Wisconsin/Illinois Region, follow @VZWCarolyn on Twitter at http://twitter.com/vzwcarolyn.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 92 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 79,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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.

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