Verizon Wireless And United Family Services Further Domestic Violence Prevention Efforts In North Carolina

PINEVILLE, NC — Verizon Wireless, a recognized corporate leader in the fight against domestic violence, will donate $1,000 to United Family Services' Shelter for Battered Women, the local shelter that offers counseling, residential services and support groups for victims of domestic violence.

Verizon Wireless will present the check to United Family Services' leaders alongside the Pineville Chamber of Commerce and business officials on Wednesday, November 1, at 3 p.m. in conjunction with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Verizon Wireless' new Pineville store, located at 9813 South Boulevard, Suite 101, in the Carolina Pavilion.

Through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine® program — a program long dedicated to putting wireless products to work to combat domestic violence — the company has supported United Family Services' Shelter for Battered Woman through the years with both monetary grants and the donation of wireless phones, which are used as a life-line for victims in a crisis situation.

"Verizon Wireless' commitment to domestic violence prevention and long time support of United Family Services has been critical to the success of our organization," said Gean Burton, Vice President for Development and Communications of United Family Services' Shelter for Battered Women. "Our shelter has been filled every day this year and with the support of Verizon Wireless we have been able to assist these families and help them through very traumatic times."

Verizon Wireless' commitment to domestic violence awarenesss and prevention began in 1995 when the company introduced its HopeLine program to help address issues such as violence against women, child abuse, dating violence and elder abuse, to name a few.

The Pineville store and all of Verizon Wireless' 2,000 company-owned stores collect used cell phones (any make, model or carrier) to recycle the phones and give the proceeds to domestic violence programs across the country.

Store hours for the new Pineville store are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, 12 noon — 6:00 p.m.

Cell phone donations are accepted at the following Greater Pineville area Verizon Wireless retail outlets:

Arboretum
8046 Providence Rd.
Suite B
Charlotte, NC 28277

ParkTowne Village
1630 E. Woodlawn Rd.
Suite 270
Charlotte, NC 28209

Matthews
9721 E. Independence Blvd.
Matthews, NC 28105

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 54.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, 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
Marking its 11^th year in 2006, the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program today collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider, which are recycled in an environmentally safe way or refurbished and sold. Proceeds from HopeLine benefit domestic violence agencies, often providing victims with essential communication tools — wireless phones and wireless services, including voicemail and pre-paid wireless minutes. Donations are accepted at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For additional information, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About United Family Services' Shelter for Battered Women
For 25 years United Family Services' Shelter for Battered Women has been helping women and their children who are victims of domestic violence. As the only shelter for domestic violence victims in Mecklenburg County, this program served 1,197 clients last year, both residential and nonresidential, and responded to 12,758 hotline calls. In addition to providing temporary residence, services include domestic violence counseling, education and support; court advocacy and protective order assistance; specialized services for survivors dealing with trauma; and domestic violence prevention and education in the community. For additional information, please visit www.unitedfamilyservices.org.

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