Verizon Wireless Celebrates Midtown, Missouri Store Opening With Contribution To The Rose Brooks Center

KANSAS CITY, MO — In response to the growing demand for the company's voice and data products and services, Verizon Wireless has expanded its presence in Kansas City with a new Communications Store in Midtown Market Place.

"We are excited to open this new location in Midtown," said Mark Crumpton, president -Kansas/Missouri Region, Verizon Wireless. "Local residents and businesses now have convenient access to a state-of-the-art store in their own neighborhood."

A wire-cutting ceremony was held on June 2 to mark the grand opening of the new Verizon Wireless Communications Store, located at 3385 Main St. The ceremony was officiated by new store manager Jerry Lasley, and CiCi Rojas, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. Kansas City Councilman Jim Glover also attended the wire cutting.

As part of the ceremony, Verizon Wireless presented a $1,500 check to Rose Brooks Center for its Project SAFE. Rose Brooks Center is a local domestic violence agency that offers support services for women and children trying to escape domestic violence and rebuild their lives. Project SAFE reaches out to children and teenagers in 33 schools throughout the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, equipping them with the knowledge to make positive life choices and develop healthy relationships.

"Our mission at Rose Brooks Center is to break the cycle of domestic violence so that individuals and families can live free of abuse," said Susan Miller, executive director of Rose Brooks Center. "Donations like this one from Verizon Wireless continue to help us realize that vision."

In honor of the store's grand opening, Verizon Wireless will waive activation fees for customers on new two-year agreements, and offer consumers a 20 percent discount on accessory purchases from June 3—5, 2005.

The new Midtown 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 service and Get It Now® downloadable ring tones, ringback tones and games.

The store also provides a HopeLine® phone collection bin where anyone can donate no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories. Through the company's award-winning HopeLine program, most 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 Verizon Wireless Communications Store in Midtown is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.— 6 p.m.; and Sunday, noon — 5 p.m.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 45.5 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 receive 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.  

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