39,500 Phones Donated Across Illinois In 2011 To Hopeline® From Verizon

SCHAUMBURG, IL — Verizon continues its ongoing mission to spread the message of domestic violence prevention and put resources into the hands of victims and survivors of domestic violence. In 2011, the company invested more than $100,000 in Illinois as part of its overall commitment to domestic violence prevention and services. In addition, Illinois residents donated more than 39,500 no-longer-used wireless phones to HopeLine® from Verizon, Verizon Wireless’ phone recycling and reuse program, to support domestic violence victims and survivors and awareness programs throughout the area.

“This year, the people of Illinois stepped up and made a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims in our area,” said T.J. Fox, region president, Verizon Wireless. “Domestic violence is a silent epidemic that affects so many, and Verizon uses its technology and other resources to help domestic violence victims and survivors.”

Through HopeLine, Verizon’s phone recycling program, the company collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any carrier and puts them to work in the community by turning them into support for domestic violence survivors. Phones collected through HopeLine recycling drives are either refurbished and sold or recycled. The proceeds, in the form of cash grants and prepaid Verizon Wireless phones, are then donated to organizations that work against domestic violence.

Illinois area residents are encouraged to donate no-longer-used phones and accessories to the HopeLine program at local Verizon Wireless Communications Stores or by downloading postage-paid mailing labels from the HopeLine website.

2011 Initiatives in Illinois to Support Domestic Violence Victims and Survivors

The generosity of consumers and businesses who donated in Illinois enabled Verizon Wireless to award more than $100,000 in cash grants to local domestic violence agencies. In addition, Verizon partnered with the Chicago Bears and Illinois Lieutenant Governor, Sheila Simon, to host HopeLine drives in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

Verizon Wireless offers a direct link for help across its nationwide wireless network through #HOPE, which provides victims with an avenue to safety and independence. By dialing “#HOPE” from any Verizon Wireless phone on the nationwide network, victims of domestic violence are able to access professional support quickly and confidentially. The toll- and airtime-free call is routed to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE).

Since the national recycling program began in 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 9 million phones nationwide; awarded more than $14 million in cash grants to prevention and awareness programs nationwide; and donated more than 123,000 HopeLine phones with more than 406 million minutes of airtime to domestic violence victims, survivors and organizations. The program has also properly disposed of more than 1 million phones in an environmentally sound way and refurbished the remaining units.

To learn more about HopeLine from Verizon and to become involved, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

For Verizon Wireless Updates on Twitter
Stay in the know about Verizon Wireless news in Illinois/Wisconsin follow @VZWAndrea on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWAndrea. For the latest network-related news, information and upgrades, follow @VZWnews on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWnews.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 108 million total wireless connections, including 92.2 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 82,000 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.

####