Local New Jersey Legislators Support Wireless Phone Recycling Drive To Benefit Victims Of Domestic Violence

WESTFIELD, NJ — Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr., and Assemblymen Jon M. Bramnick and Eric Munoz, M.D. today announced their support of the Verizon Wireless HopeLine^SM phone recycling program that benefits victims of domestic violence. During the month of July, Kean, Bramnick and Munoz are encouraging residents to bring their old, no longer used wireless phones to the legislators' district offices at 203 Elm Street in Westfield. Phones also may be dropped off at local Verizon Wireless Communications Stores at The Mall at Short Hills and in Watchung at 1620 Rt. 22 East.

"The HopeLine phone recycling program is an easy way for community-minded citizens to support local domestic violence organizations as they help abused women re-build their lives," said Kean. "Domestic violence does not discriminate; it's all around us in places most of us would never imagine. Citizens who support the program could very well be helping their own friends or neighbors."

Domestic violence prevention and education is Verizon Wireless' chief community focus. Through the HopeLine phone recycling program, the company collects no-longer-used phones to be refurbished, recycled or sold. Proceeds are donated to domestic violence advocacy groups or used to purchase new phones for victims. Phones that are collected and cannot be refurbished are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

"No offense shakes individual security more than violence in the home," said Charles Hand, president of Verizon Wireless' New York Metro Region. "At Verizon Wireless, we continue to be humbled by the strength of domestic violence survivors and proud to provide them with resources that can help them rebuild their lives."

All wireless phone models from any carrier are accepted for recycling. Since 1995, Verizon Wireless has collected more than one million wireless phones for the benefit of domestic violence victims, including more than 60,000 in the New York metro area. Phones are collected at all 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For more information, 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 33.3 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 http://www.verizonwireless.com.  

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