Spring Cleaning? Don't Throw Away Your Old Wireless Phones; Recycle Them at Verizon Wireless Stores

ORANGEBURG, NY — Wondering what to do with those old wireless phones found during your annual spring cleaning? Everyone knows you don't throw them in your office waste basket or household trash, but how can you dispose of them properly?

Drop them off at a Verizon Wireless Communications Store and help fight domestic violence at the same time through the company's HopeLine^SM Phone Recycling Program. All phones collected will be refurbished, recycled or sold, and either phones or cash, will be donated to non-profit domestic violence agencies. What's more, you'll be doing your part to divert tons of materials from landfills by discarding your phone in an environmentally-friendly way.

"The HopeLine Phone Recycling program is an easy way for community-minded citizens to support domestic violence organizations," said Charles Hand, president of Verizon Wireless' New York Metro Region. "Last year, we donated more than $56,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to domestic violence agencies in the area, thanks to individuals, groups and companies who donated no longer used cell phones. So search your closets, drawers, garages, dashboards and anywhere else you might have stashed that old cell phone and donate it to Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program, where it can be put to good use as a tool to combat this horrendous crime."

Domestic violence prevention and education is Verizon Wireless' chief community focus. Through its signature program, HopeLine, the company provides wireless phones to law enforcement agencies to distribute to women at risk, free voicemail boxes to victims residing in shelters to receive and retrieve private messages from potential employers and landlords, and cash donations to DV organizations.

As a result of HopeLine and related phone recycling programs the company has organized since 1995, Verizon Wireless has collected two million used wireless phones for the benefit of domestic violence victims and advocacy groups, including more than 90,000 wireless handsets in the New York metro area. Donations are accepted at all 72 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in the New York Metro area. All wireless phone models, batteries and chargers from any carrier are accepted. For store locations and additional 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 39 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.

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