Verizon Wireless, National Cherry Festival Team Up To Benefit Domestic Violence Organizations, Survivors In Michigan

SOUTHFIELD, MI — Verizon Wireless has partnered with the National Cherry Festival to help domestic violence organizations and the women and children they serve through the collection of no-longer used wireless phones and equipment.

Verizon Wireless, which is the presenting sponsor of the 2010 National Cherry Festival, will donate $2 for every wireless phone collected in Michigan through the end of July, up to $10,000, to the National Cherry Festival Foundation. The Festival Foundation will allocate the dollars raised through this special HopeLine® drive to non-profit organizations committed to the awareness and prevention of domestic violence.

Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program turns no-longer-used wireless phones into support for domestic violence awareness and prevention organizations. Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to supply wireless phones with free airtime to survivors and to contribute grants to domestic violence agencies across the country. Phones that cannot be refurbished are recycled in an environmentally sound way.

Michiganders can drop off phones and accessories from any wireless service provider, in any condition, at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store in Michigan as well as at the National Cherry Festival office in Traverse City and at the festival itself. Collection boxes will be placed at various locations throughout the festival open space.

The Festival Foundation was created in 2008 by representatives of the National Cherry Festival to provide a means by which the greater Grand Traverse communities could support education and charitable efforts focusing on agriculture, tourism and the National Cherry Festival.

“We are thrilled to have Verizon Wireless on board, not only as presenting sponsor of the National Cherry Festival but also as a partner of the National Cherry Festival’s Foundation,” said Tim Hinkely, executive director of the National Cherry Festival. “HopeLine and its mission line up very well with the mission of the Festival Foundation. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together the passion of two organizations and combine their resources to make a difference in our community.”

“So many of us tuck our old cell phones away for safe keeping when we get new ones, just in case we may need them one day,” said Greg Haller, president–Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region, Verizon Wireless. “Before we know it, though, we’ve got a drawer full of phones not being used. We’re asking Michiganders to open those drawers, empty them out and help us collect 5,000 phones to benefit domestic violence survivors.”

The National Cherry Festival presented by Verizon Wireless will take place along the shores of West Grand Traverse Bay in the Cherry Capital of the World, Traverse City, Michigan, July 3 through July 10, 2010. Visit the Festival’s website at www.cherryfestival.org for an up-to-the minute schedule of events and information as well as for National Cherry Festival Foundation information.

For more information on Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program, 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 nearly 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 81,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: 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.####