WILMINGTON, Mass., April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- On Earth Day (April 22nd), Verizon Wireless encourages New Englanders to continue to recycle their wireless phones and accessories on behalf of local domestic violence prevention organizations. Verizon Wireless' HopeLine(R) program puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work by turning unused wireless phones into support for survivors of domestic violence.
Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider at company stores nationwide. Proceeds from the HopeLine recycling program are used to provide wireless phones and financial grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness. Since 2001, customers have helped Verizon Wireless keep nearly 200 hundred tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills by recycling their wireless phones and accessories through HopeLine.
In 2007, Verizon Wireless awarded more than $80,000 in financial grants to domestic violence prevention agencies and organizations throughout New England. Last year, Verizon Wireless also donated over 1,000 additional wireless phones to New England-based domestic violence agencies for use by their clients. These HopeLine phones, and the donation of over three million additional minutes of service, are used by local survivors of domestic violence as part of their safety plan as they transition out of violent relationships.
"We deeply appreciate all of the support that our New England customers, partners and community volunteers have given to HopeLine," said Ken Dixon, New England Region president, Verizon Wireless. "Earth Day serves as a reminder that cell phone recycling can benefit the environment and domestic violence survivors. There are still unused cell phones in desk drawers across New England that could be put to better use."
Many public and private organizations have conducted collection drives to benefit the HopeLine program. For example, in 2007, Verizon Wireless teamed up with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's South Station managed by Equity Office, and television and radio stations FOX25 and WROR (105.7 FM) in Massachusetts, FOX61 in Connecticut, and FOX23 in Maine, for the 7th annual Kids In Need Holiday Drive. Verizon Wireless stores throughout New England 'adopted' one of 65 local domestic violence shelters, collecting new, unwrapped toys, games and books for children receiving services of domestic violence shelters.
The HopeLine program also includes #HOPE, which can be dialed from any Verizon Wireless handset nationwide, to connect to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline provides professional support and referrals to those affected by domestic violence, as well as those who want to help friends and family. The call to #HOPE is toll-free and airtime-free.
HopeLine has collected more than 4.5 million phones, and awarded nearly $5 million in cash grants, and over 60,000 wireless phones with 160 million minutes of free wireless service to domestic violence prevention organizations nationwide since 2001.
For more information on Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program, or to arrange a corporate or school-based phone recycling drive, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
