Domestic Violence Prevention Groups In New England Benefit From Verizon Wireless Phone Recycling Program

WOBURN, MA — Throughout 2006, wireless customers in New England donated more than 60,000 no-longer-used wireless phones to Verizon Wireless' HopeLine® phone recycling program which supports domestic violence prevention and awareness programs nationwide. As a result of the donations, more than $80,000, and 500 wireless phones, with airtime and other features were donated to approximately 50 domestic violence prevention agencies based across New England.

Recipients (all of which work to support domestic violence survivors) of 2006 Verizon Wireless HopeLine grants included the following agencies, among many others:

• Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery — Massachusetts
• Domestic Violence Services of Greater — Connecticut
• Rutland County Women's Network — Vermont
• Caring Unlimited — Maine
• BRIDGES - New Hampshire
• Katie Brown Educational Program - Rhode Island

"We are encouraged to see consumers continuing to recycle their no-longer used wireless phones," said Ken Dixon, New England region president, Verizon Wireless. "Residents throughout New England recognize the devastating impact of domestic violence and have responded by donating old phones and chargers to help make a difference in the lives of domestic violence survivors and their families."

Verizon Wireless customers across the country donated 910,000 no-longer-used wireless phones to HopeLine in 2006, resulting in donations of nearly $1.3 million in cash grants and more than 16,000 HopeLine phones with airtime and other features to domestic violence organizations and shelters.

Verizon Wireless launched its national recycling program in October 2001. Since its founding, more than 3.5 million phones have been collected nationwide. The program has properly disposed of more than 800,000 phones in an environmentally-friendly manner, and refurbished the remaining phones for resale and reuse. Over the past five years, Verizon Wireless has also distributed more than $3.5 million in cash grants and nearly 40,000 phones to domestic violence prevention and awareness programs across the country.

Verizon Wireless is a recognized corporate leader for its commitment to preventing domestic violence and raising awareness of the issue. No-longer-used phones are collected in more than 2,000 Communications Stores across the country.

For more information on Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program and on how to donate a wireless phone, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

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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