Verizon Wireless And Buffalo Bills To Collect Wireless Phones For Domestic Violence Program

ROCHESTER, NY — Verizon Wireless and the Buffalo Bills will be teaming up again this season in an effort to aid in the prevention of domestic violence through a wireless phone collection. As part of Verizon Wireless' national HopeLineSM program, a collection of no longer used wireless phones will take place during the Buffalo Bills 2002 training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, NY from August 14 through August 21. Phones will also be collected at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Verizon Wireless' annual HopeLine game-day collection Sunday, October 27, 2002.

Fans can donate their wireless phones at the Verizon Wireless collection booth located in the Corporate Village. Phones will also be collected at the company's Communications Stores in the Rochester area. Each fan that donates a used wireless phone is eligible to enter to win an official team jersey autographed by London Fletcher. Fletcher has been named the 2002 HopeLine spokesplayer for the Bills/Verizon Wireless program.

The HopeLine program distributes previously owned wireless phones no longer in use to victims of domestic violence, supports non-profit domestic violence advocacy groups and provides an environmentally safe method for recycling phones. The donated phones are refurbished and recycled or sold. Proceeds are then used to purchase wireless phones for use by victims of domestic violence in emergency or threatening situations. Verizon Wireless also donates airtime to enable victims to quickly receive help from human services and law enforcement agencies.

"This program enables our fans to take a no longer used wireless phone that is essentially useless to them and turn it into a lifeline for a member of their community," said London Fletcher, linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. "We know we can count on our fans to help out by bringing their phones to camp or donating them at Verizon Wireless stores across the state."

"By simply donating a wireless phone you are no longer using, you can truly make a difference for victims of domestic violence," said John Palmer, president of Verizon Wireless' Upstate New York Region. "Verizon Wireless is thrilled that the Buffalo Bills and London Fletcher are participating in our efforts to prevent domestic violence."

As a result of HopeLine and related phone recycling programs the company has organized since 1995, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 750,000 used wireless phones nationwide for the benefit of domestic violence victims and advocacy groups, including more than 286,000 since October, 2001.

This is the third year the Bills have trained in suburban Rochester. Along with watching players get ready for the upcoming season, fans of all ages can participate in the training camp's interactive area, which offers a variety of simulated football activities. For more information on the 2002 Buffalo Bills training camp, visit the Buffalo Bills official Web site at www.buffalobills.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 30.3 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.

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