Verizon Wireless Provides Phones And Service For California Police And Fire Department Games

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Verizon Wireless is loaning 100 cellular phones and wireless service to the first California Police and Fire Games. The phones will help event coordinators communicate game results and manage the logistics of facilitating the week-long event that runs from June 25 through July 1.

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Athletic Federation is hosting the Games, formerly called the California Police Summer Games, an annual event since 1967. The Games will be held at 37 venues throughout the Inland Empire.

"We appreciate the kind phone loan and service donation by Verizon Wireless to make our first California Police and Fire Games a success," said Sergeant Bill Hunt of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department. "The phones will be a great resource for our staff at the various locations."

"Verizon Wireless is always looking for ways to help support our local police and fire departments," said Mike Finley, president, Southern California Region, Verizon Wireless.

The Games are predicted to be the largest "pure" amateur sporting event held in California. The community is invited to watch the competition and root for their favorite police or fire department. Some of the daytime events include boxing, basketball, softball, equestrian, roller hockey and tug `o war. A wine, jazz and cigar bar will be open upstairs at the Ontario Convention Center from 4-7 p.m., Monday through Thursday. More information about the California Police and Fire Games is available at www.pafg2000.org.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with more than 18 million wireless voice and data customers and nearly 4 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless company was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE:BEL) and Vodafone AirTouch Plc (LSE:VOD; NYSE:VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. Verizon Wireless will be further strengthened by the addition of the wireless assets of GTE Corp. (NYSE:GTE) when it completes its merger with Bell Atlantic. The new company will have a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Headquartered in New York City and Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is 30,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more Verizon Wireless information at www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter.

####