Verizon Wireless Launches State's First "UHopeLine" Program at City University of New York

QUEENS, NY — City University of New York (CUNY) and Verizon Wireless officials joined the NYC Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence at Queens College in Flushing today to mark the close of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and announce the introduction of UHopeLine, an extension of the company's exclusive HopeLine® wireless phone recycling program, that will create permanent collection points on eight CUNY college campuses.

Recognizing the silent epidemic of dating abuse, UHopeLine is designed to increase awareness of dating violence, provide aid to domestic violence survivors and encourage college students to help the environment by recycling their no-longer-used wireless devices.

Championed by the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, CUNY is the first university in New York State and only the second in the country, to host the UHopeLne program. In addition to Queens College, the program will place permanent cell phone recycling collection bins at Bronx Community and Lehman colleges in the Bronx; Medgar Evers and Kingsborough Community colleges in Brooklyn; and at Baruch and Borough of Manhattan Community and John Jay colleges in Manhattan. A permanent UHopeLine collection site will be established at the College of Staten Island by early next year.

"Through its unique Women and Work program, Queens College has been a leader in providing life-changing opportunities to survivors of domestic violence," says Joseph Bertolino, vice president of student affairs. "In fact, Verizon Wireless supported Women and Work at its inception with a technology grant. We're delighted to be partnering with Verizon Wireless once again. UHopeLine will bring greater awareness of dating and domestic violence and give our students a tangible way to help."

According to a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene study released last year on intimate partner violence in New York City, women in their 20's experience the highest rate of intimate partner homicides, hospitalizations and emergency room visits when compared to other age groups.

"Through this initiative CUNY and Verizon Wireless are demonstrating their commitment to breaking the cycle of violence and helping victims obtain easier access to the services they need," said Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence Commissioner Yolanda B. Jimenez. "This initiative is a great example of how the private and public sectors can work together to increase awareness about this serious issue and have a positive impact on victims of violence and their children."

UHopeline accepts wireless devices and accessories in any condition, from any wireless service provider, and then refurbishes or recycles them in an environmentally-sound way. Proceeds of the UHopeline program benefit local domestic violence survivors in the form of wireless phones with service and cash grants to domestic violence advocacy groups working to end domestic violence.

In recognition of each college's commitment to women's issues, Verizon Wireless will make a $1,000 donation to women's education and safety programs on each campus.

"The generosity of New Yorkers and consumers nationwide has enabled Verizon Wireless to collect more than 6.5 million no longer used phones and donate nearly $7 million in grants and over 80,000 wireless phones with service to domestic violence survivors," said Pat Devlin, president of the company's New York Metro Region. "UHopeLine is a natural extension of the HopeLine program, and helps raise awareness among young women at a time in their lives when they are especially vulnerable to controlling relationships. We thank CUNY and the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence for leading the State in this important effort."

The UHopeLine program in New York has collection bins at the following CUNY locations:

• Queens College Student Union, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, Queens
• Bronx Community College Meister Hall Patio, 2155 University Ave., Bronx
• Lehman College Student Life Building, 250 Bedford Park Blvd W, Bronx
• Medgar Evers College School of Business, Student Services Bldg., 1637 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn
• Kingsborough Community College Bookstore, 2001 Oriental Blvd, Brooklyn
• Baruch College Office of Student Life, 55 Lexington at 24th St., Manhattan
• Borough of Manhattan Community College, 99 Chambers St., Manhattan
• John Jay College, Women's Center, North Hall, 899 Tenth Ave., Manhattan

In a related announcement, Verizon Wireless and Rutgers University today announced the expansion of UHopeLine to its Newark, Camden, Cook and Livingston campuses in New Jersey. Rutgers became the first university in the nation to host the program last October when Verizon Wireless established UHopeLine collection points at student centers in the New Brunswick area. More than 500 used phones were collected during the first year of the program. See release at http://www.verizonwireless.com/news/article/2009/10/pr2009-10-26d.html.

As part of the company's ongoing HopeLine phone recycling program, wireless devices and accessories also are accepted at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in New York and across the nation. For store locations and to learn how to donate a phone downloading a postage-paid mailing label, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving 89 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 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 CUNY
The City University of New York is the nation's largest urban public university, comprised of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E. Macaulay Honors College at CUNY, the Graduate School and University Center, the City University School of Law at Queens College, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, and the CUNY School of Professional Studies. Serving more than 243,000 degree-credit students and 273,000 continuing and professional education students, the University confers 35,000 degrees each year - more than 1.1 million associate, baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees since 1967. CUNY plays a crucial role in the life and economy of the city and state. As of 2007, 54 percent of undergraduates and 46 percent of all college students in New York City were attending CUNY. College Now, CUNY's academic enrichment program for 46,000 high school students, is offered at CUNY campuses and at more than 343 high schools. Online baccalaureate degrees are offered by the School of Professional Studies.

THE NYC MAYOR'S OFFICE TO COMBAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV) formulates policies and programs, monitors the citywide delivery of domestic violence services, and works with diverse communities to increase awareness of domestic violence. OCDV works closely with community leaders, health care providers, City agencies, and representatives from the criminal justice system to hold batterers accountable and to create solutions that are critical to preventing domestic violence in New York City. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/domesticviolence or call 311.

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