Verizon Wireless Promotes Domestic Violence Awareness in Massachusetts

WOBURN, MA — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when national attention is focused on domestic violence, a societal epidemic affecting families from all walks of life. For many years, Verizon Wireless' HopeLine® program has provided wireless phones, voice mail, and cash donations to countless domestic violence organizations across the country. Through this multi-faceted program, the company has concentrated on preventing domestic violence, helping victims and increasing community awareness.

Local Businesses Team with Verizon Wireless; Provide Emergency Communications for Victims

In New England, Verizon Wireless has partnered with a number of area businesses, local organizations, and domestic violence advocacy groups to continue to generate awareness about domestic violence and support programs that help families in crisis-primarily through the arrangement of wireless phone recycling drives. Through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless 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. Collected phones (any make, any carrier) are refurbished for donation to victims, recycled or sold. Proceeds are then used to benefit non-profit domestic violence prevention organizations through monetary donations.

In addition to the year-round acceptance of no-longer-used phones and batteries at Verizon Wireless stores throughout New England, more than 25 police departments in Plymouth County in conjunction with the Plymouth County District Attorney's office, will join Private Healthcare Services of Waltham; CCHERS of Boston; and the Town of Braintree Recycling Program in collecting used wireless phones this October. Other companies that maintain ongoing HopeLine collection programs include HP and GE.

"Through the HopeLine program, Verizon Wireless helps domestic violence victims with the life rebuilding process," said Bob Stott, New England Region president, Verizon Wireless. "Support from our customers, partners and community volunteers has been paramount to the success of HopeLine as we combine strengths to become a support and hopefully part of a solution to this national epidemic."

Verizon Wireless Awards Grants; Holds Employment Preparation Workshops

Last year, Verizon Wireless introduced its HopeLine $1,000 Grant Program, which provides monies to New England-based domestic violence organizations, law enforcement agencies and support groups. Within that time frame, the company has awarded more than $75,000. This month, Verizon Wireless will deliver cash to the Smithfield, RI police department, the Susan B. Anthony Project, New Hope of Webster, Mass. and both the Reading and Brookline, Mass. police departments to support domestic violence programs.

In addition to financial contributions and emergency phones with service, Verizon Wireless HopeLine also provides employment preparation workshops called Invest in Yourself. Arranged primarily through partnerships with domestic violence organizations, Verizon Wireless' Human Resources specialists conduct workshops to help women in transition prepare resumes, build interview skills and techniques, and seek out employment options. This month, Verizon Wireless will hold an Invest In Yourself Seminar in Spanish on October 20th in Holyoke with Womanshelter/Companeras.

For more information on HopeLine, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data 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 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.

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