Champions For Domestic Violence Awareness: Verizon Wireless HopeLine Program And NOBLE Join Together To Put Old Phones To Good Use

BASKING RIDGE, NJ, and ALEXANDRIA, VA — Just in time for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) is launching its third annual fall HopeLine® phone collection drive at chapter locations nationwide. In addition to chapter members, the general public is encouraged to participate throughout October and November. All collected phones will be donated to Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program to benefit domestic violence victims.

“I look forward to partnering with the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program again and advancing our joint mission to address domestic violence on a national level,” said Ernest Green, NOBLE national president. “As law enforcement officers, we encounter the unfortunate effects of abuse in our communities every day. We understand the importance of having a link to emergency services and being able to contact family in times of crisis. I encourage everyone in the community to make a difference by bringing their old phones to our participating chapters.”

Wireless customers who would like to participate in the NOBLE phone collection can visit the Verizon Wireless Domestic Violence Awareness Month Information Center at http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/DVAM2009.html and contact their local chapter. Consumers can also contact the main NOBLE number at 703-658-1529 to obtain local chapter information.

HopeLine accepts wireless phones and accessories in any condition from any carrier for reuse and recycling at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or by mail using the postage-paid label available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel. Phones given to HopeLine 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 advocacy organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.

In recognition of previous HopeLine collections, Verizon Wireless presented two NOBLE chapters – Georgia and South Florida – with the company’s HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award. The HopeLine award honors the efforts of public safety officials who are committed to reducing domestic violence, providing support to victims, raising awareness of the issue and educating communities about domestic violence.

Since the creation of the HopeLine program in 1995, Verizon Wireless has partnered with law enforcement and government agencies in communities nationwide. Verizon Wireless’ support includes:

• Donating wireless phones and service, high-speed Mobile Broadband Internet service and cash grants to prosecutors, detectives and other personnel in local government domestic violence units
• Sponsoring phone collection drives in cooperation with local sheriff and police departments
• Partnering with several states’ Attorneys General offices to create campaigns around elder abuse, teen dating and other domestic violence issues
• Sponsoring the American Bar Associations National Domestic Violence Pro Bono directory at www.probono.net/dv/  

To read about HopeLine’s law enforcement support and previous award recipients or to learn more 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 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 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.

About NOBLE
The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) serves as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to justice by action. NOBLE represents over 3,000 members nationwide, primarily African-American chief executive officers of law enforcement agencies at federal, state, county and municipal levels, other law enforcement administrators, and criminal justice practitioners.

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