South Bay Community Services in California Receives Grant From Verizon Wireless HopeLine Program For Local Collection Drive Efforts

IRVINE, CA — South Bay Community Services, a non-profit that provides services and programs for families, children and individuals in South San Diego County affected by domestic violence, will be awarded $2,000 dollars as the result of collecting more than 200 phones and accessories during the one-month collection drive by Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program. South Bay Community Services will be presented with the grant at the Verizon Wireless store at 223 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101 on July 23 at 10 a.m.

South Bay Community Services (SBCS), a 2008 HopeLine grant recipient, teamed up with the recently opened Verizon Wireless Communications Store in San Diego, Calif. to collect no-longer-used mobile phones and accessories for a $2,000 dollar grant through the HopeLine program. During the one-month phone drive, SBCS exceeded the collection drive goal, collecting 187 phones and 23 accessories.

"Domestic violence is an on-going issue in our community and it is crucial that emergency services remain available to those in need," said Kathryn Lembo, executive director of South Bay Community Services. "Assistance from community partners such as Verizon Wireless plays an incredibly important role in allowing South Bay Community Services to continue serving children, youth and families in need."

The regional phone collection drive is part of an overall community awareness program to highlight local domestic violence agencies and provide additional opportunities for HopeLine grants.

"It was extremely rewarding to participate in a national program like Hopeline at the regional level, benefitting the community we serve," said Luis Lopez, manager of the San Diego, Calif. Verizon Wireless Communications Store. "The HopeLine program is one of the many reasons we are proud to be a part of Verizon Wireless and we are happy to support this worthy cause."

Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work in our communities by turning unused wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence. Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide. Phones that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those without value are disposed of in an environmentally sound way. Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to provide wireless phones and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.

Since the HopeLine program's launch in 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 5.6 million phones and donated more than $6.3 million in cash grants to organizations engaged in raising the awareness of domestic violence and its prevention. In 2008, HopeLine granted nearly 20 Southern California domestic violence prevention agencies with over $150,000 dollars in grants to fund existing and new programs. For more information please visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About South Bay Community Services
South Bay Community Services provides the most comprehensive range of services and programs for families, children and individuals in South San Diego County. The programs are for everyone at anytime in their lives when they need it the most. With the continuous support from community members and generous sponsors, they are able to respond to the overwhelming needs of the community-touching the lives of more than 50,000 annually www.southbaycommunityservices.org. 

About HopeLine
HopeLine accepts wireless phones and accessories in any condition from any manufacturer for reuse and recycling. All phones donated to HopeLine that can be refurbished are sold for reuse and those that are not salvageable are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero landfill policy. To find a store near you or for additional information about HopeLine, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 86.6 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 86,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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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