Verizon Wireless And The Green Bay Packers Continue Season-Long Partnership To Provide Support To Domestic Violence Survivors

GREEN BAY, WI — A phone drive being held at the Packers game versus the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Dec. 23, continues the long-running efforts of Verizon Wireless and the Green Bay Packers to help curb domestic violence in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

All fans attending the game are invited to donate no-longer-used wireless handsets and accessories from any wireless provider. Phones are recycled, or refurbished and resold, with funds going to organizations in the community working to help victims of domestic violence. HopeLine^® from Verizon Wireless will be providing a grant to directly benefit victims of domestic violence served by House of Hope in Green Bay. Volunteers will be accepting donated phones and equipment at each of the six Lambeau Field entrances from 10 a.m. until game time at 12 p.m. For each phone collected, Verizon Wireless will contribute $10 to House of Hope.

“The support of organizations like Verizon Wireless is invaluable,” said Shannon Wienandt, executive director, House of Hope. “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 survivors of domestic violence. Wireless phones, batteries and other accessories are collected at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide and in special collections throughout the year. Most of the phones will be refurbished and sold. With the funds raised from the sale of the refurbished phones, Verizon Wireless donates wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence, and provides funding and other contributions to non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country. Phones that can’t be refurbished will be recycled in an environmentally sound way.

“By donating no-longer-used wireless handsets, Packers fans can help provide hope to survivors of domestic violence—an issue affecting one out of every four women in America during her lifetime,” said T.J. Fox, region president, 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 survivors in their community,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “We’re asking all fans to donate as many phones as possible on Dec. 23 to support the effort.”

Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 9 million wireless phones, awarded more than $14.2 million in cash grants to prevention and awareness programs nationwide; and donated more than 123,000 HopeLine phones with 406 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations. In 2011 in Wisconsin, more than 13,000 phones were collected and more than $75,000 in cash grants were awarded.

Fans unable to attend the Dec. 23 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.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves nearly 96 million retail customers, including 90.4 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 75,000 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.

####