Verizon Wireless Donates 25 Phones To Northeastern University School of Law Program

WOBURN, MA — Verizon Wireless has donated 25 wireless phones to the Domestic Violence Institute at Northeastern University School of Law. Northeastern staff attorneys and law students, together with the advocates from the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Casa Myrna Vasquez and the Association of Haitian Women, staff the Civil Advocacy Office at Dorchester District Court. The office serves more than 100 clients per month at the Court, all of whom are contending with domestic violence.

Verizon Wireless' national HopeLine^SM program distributes previously owned wireless phones to victims of domestic violence, supports non-profit domestic violence prevention groups and provides an environmentally friendly method for recycling handsets. At the center of HopeLine is a phone-recycling program. Verizon Wireless' 1,200 stores throughout the nation serve as drop-off locations for wireless phones (any brand, any carrier) that are no longer in use. Phones collected through HopeLine are refurbished for donation to victims, recycled or sold. Proceeds are then used to benefit non-profit domestic violence prevention organizations through the purchase of wireless phones and/or monetary contributions. While Verizon Wireless invests in the HopeLine program alongside shelters, advocates and program members, community residents can also get involved by recycling no longer used wireless phones to the HopeLine program.

"Access to emergency phones is essential in providing for our client's safety needs," said Neha Lall, supervising attorney from the Domestic Violence Institute. "Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program gives victims a means to obtaining instruments of safety when they need it most."

Northeastern's Domestic Violence clinical program trains second and third year law students to provide civil advocacy services to victims of violence at the Dorchester District Court. Northeastern's Court Clinic is an integral part of the victim services program at Dorchester's domestic violence court. Students provide on-site advocacy services to victims of violence seeking civil restraining orders or other means of protection. Services include interviewing, counseling, courtroom advocacy and follow-up legal and referral services. Experienced, on-site attorneys provide supervision of the program under the direction of Lois Kanter, a clinical professor at Northeastern and the executive director of the Domestic Violence Institute. The Domestic Violence Institute also runs the Domestic Violence Project at the Boston Medical Center, which provides services to BMC patients who have been identified as victims of domestic abuse.

Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program also makes financial grants to regional and national domestic violence organizations, such as the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other community interest groups. As a result of HopeLine and related phone recycling programs Verizon Wireless has collected more than one million used wireless phones and has distributed more than $3.7 million in contributions, donations and services for the benefit of domestic violence victims and advocacy groups.

"HopeLine was created to assist domestic violence programs that serve our communities," said Bob Stott, president of the New England Region for Verizon Wireless. "We will continue to support community outreach programs that provide positive networks and resources to support victims of domestic violence and curb this widespread problem."

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 37.5 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.  To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.  

MA-based Verizon Wireless Communications Stores/Drop Off Points

745 Boylston Street
Boston, MA
617-266-9000

101 Arch Street
Boston, MA
617-946-0500

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