Verizon Wireless Opens New Store In Royal Oak, Michigan

ROYAL OAK, MI — Consumers and businesses in Oakland County now have greater access to the nation's most reliable wireless service provider with the opening of a new Verizon Wireless Communications Store in Royal Oak. The store, located at 31921 Woodward Ave., opened on February 25. It is the company's 17th retail location in Oakland County and 67th in Michigan.

In celebration of Verizon Wireless' expansion in Oakland County, the company is donating $5,000 to Lighthouse PATH, which provides transitional housing to homeless women and children, many of whom are victims of domestic violence. The gift will be used to help fund a state-licensed, hands-on developmental program for infants and toddlers whose families are in PATH's residential programs and also will benefit the organization's MotherRead program, which encourages mothers to read to their children and helps them with their own literacy skills.

"Lighthouse PATH is an oasis of care and nurturing for women and children in need of a safe environment," said Greg Haller, president—Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. "We are committed to helping organizations like Lighthouse PATH and the people they serve in the communities where we do business."

Lighthouse PATH's program activities include art, music, language, an introduction to computers, sensory exploration and gross motor development-all provided in a caring, loving environment.

The new Verizon Wireless Communications Store offers an expansive array of wireless products and services, including the latest phones, accessories and data services such as Picture Messaging, TXT Messaging, NationalAccess high-speed Internet connection and Get It Now® downloadable ringtones and games.

The store also provides a HopeLine^SM phone collection bin where anyone may donate no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories. Through the award-winning Verizon Wireless HopeLine program, most of the donated phones and equipment are refurbished and sold with proceeds going to support domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. Any remaining phones are recycled in an environmentally friendly way.

The new Royal Oak store manager is Suzanne St. John. Store hours are Monday—Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store's phone number is 248-549-4177.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, N.J., 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 preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About HopeLine
2005 marks the 10 year anniversary of the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program, which puts wireless products and services to work to combat domestic violence. Today, HopeLine collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless carrier and refurbishes or recycles them with proceeds benefiting victims of domestic violence. The environmentally friendly HopeLine Program also provides victims with essential communication tools — wireless phones and wireless services, including voicemail and pre-paid wireless minutes. Donations are accepted at all 1, 900-plus Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For additional information, customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Lighthouse PATH
Lighthouse PATH, a subsidiary of Lighthouse of Oakland County, Inc., provides an empowerment program for homeless women and children with transitional housing. Life skills and educational programs are available for women and children to foster the development of self-esteem, self-sufficiency, and economic independence, thereby strengthening the family. PATHway Children's Services offers an on-site Montessori and Infant/Toddler program.

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