Verizon Wireless Provides HopeLine for Victims of Domestic Violence with Wireless Phone Drive April 7 at Marcus Center in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, WI — Persons attending the April 7 From the Heart lecture series at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts will have a special opportunity to join in the effort to help win the fight against domestic violence.

Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading provider of wireless communications and a sponsor of the From the Heart series, has announced it will collect old, used wireless phones at the April 7 event as part of its HopeLine^SM program. Through HopeLine, used wireless handsets, batteries and accessories from any wireless company are collected, refurbished, recycled, and/or sold. Proceeds are donated to non-profit domestic violence advocacy organizations and used to purchase handsets for domestic violence victims, including those throughout Wisconsin.

The wireless phone collection will begin at 6 p.m. and will last until the start of the lecture at 7:30 p.m. The phones will be collected at a display station in the lobby of the Marcus Center.

The HopeLine phone collection corresponds with the message that will be given by Betty Mahmoody, the featured speaker for the April 7 event and a survivor of domestic abuse. Ms. Mahmoody and her daughter, Mahtob, were held captive in Iran when Ms. Mahmoody's husband refused to allow them to leave the country. The experience resulted in a courageous 500-mile escape on horseback and foot by the mother and her daughter. The heroic saga served as the basis for the movie "Not Without My Daughter," starring Sally Field.

"Betty and Mahtob's story underscores an important message for all domestic violence victims in that a life free of violence is one worth fighting for," said Tracy Nolan — president , Wisconsin/Illinois Region, Verizon Wireless. "We encourage everyone to help in this fight and make a difference for domestic violence victims by putting their old phones to good use and bringing them to the Marcus Center on April 7." In keeping with the presentation, Verizon Wireless also will recognize representatives from Milwaukee-area domestic violence prevention shelters and organizations during the event.

Verizon Wireless has a long history of supporting of domestic violence awareness and prevention initiatives throughout the state and country. In the past two years, the company's HopeLine program has donated nationwide more than $1 million to domestic violence programs and more than 10,000 wireless phones with airtime. This includes the donation of hundreds of emergency phones for Wisconsin domestic violence victims as well as administrative wireless phones to facilitate the work performed by local domestic violence prevention advocates. The company has collected more than one million used wireless phones since 1995.

About HopeLine
Verizon Wireless encourages wireless users to donate their old, unused wireless phones to its exclusive HopeLine phone recycling program. The national HopeLine program distributes previously owned wireless phones to victims of domestic violence, supports non-profit domestic violence advocacy groups and provides an environmentally safe method for recycling phones. Donations are accepted at all 1,200-plus Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For additional information, customers may also visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

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 32.5 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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