Verizon Wireless And The Chicago Bulls Team Up To Provide Hope For Domestic Violence Victims

CHICAGO, IL — Verizon Wireless and the Chicago Bulls are teaming up to invite fans to help victims of domestic violence in Chicagoland. The organizations are holding a phone collection drive will be held on Friday, Feb. 23, at the United Center prior to the Bulls' game against the Washington Wizards. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. when the gates open, until game time, fans can donate no-longer-used wireless handsets and accessories from any service provider at any of the United Center admission gates. The wireless equipment will be collected for Verizon Wireless' HopeLine^® program.

Through its award-winning HopeLine program, Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider. Most of the donated phones and equipment are refurbished and sold, with proceeds going to support domestic violence awareness and prevention programs, including those in Chicagoland.

Since October 2001, when Verizon Wireless launched its national recycling program, HopeLine has collected more than 3.5 million phones. The program has disposed of more than 800,000 phones in an environmentally sound way and refurbished the remaining phones for resale and reuse. Over the last five years, Verizon Wireless also has distributed more than $10 million in financial grants, phones and services and nearly 40,000 phones to domestic violence prevention and awareness programs throughout the country.

Chicago Bulls guard-forward and HopeLine spokesperson Adrian Griffin encourages fans to donate their phones to this worthy cause. "By donating used wireless phones to the HopeLine program, fans can truly help make a difference in the lives of thousands of victims here in Chicagoland," says Griffin. "I highly encourage our fans to dig through their closets, ask friends and family members for their used phones and accessories, and donate as many phones as possible to the HopeLine program."

"We appreciate the Bulls teaming up with us on this very important initiative," says T.J. Fox, president—Illinois/Wisconsin Region, Verizon Wireless. "Bulls' fans are the best in the league, and I know they will want to help make a difference by donating their phones on February 23."

"By donating no-longer-used wireless handsets, fans can help provide hope to victims of domestic violence-a problem which affects more than 30 percent of American women during their lifetime," added Fox.

The HopeLine Drive is just of one the domestic violence awareness initiatives involving the Chicago Bulls and Verizon Wireless. For every Bulls' point scored during the 2006-07 season, Verizon Wireless is donating $2 to CharitaBulls, the non-profit organization of the Chicago Bulls, which directs funds to domestic violence prevention agencies. The maximum donation will be $15,000. This is the fourth year of the program, with $45,000 donated to date.

Fans unable to attend the Feb. 23 game can still participate in the phone drive by donating their no-longer-used wireless phones at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store at any time. To find the store closest to you, visit www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving more than 59 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 65,000 employees nationwide. The company 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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