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More Than One Million Phones Donated to HopeLine from Verizon in 2010

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless collected more than 1.1 million no-longer-used wireless phones through its HopeLine® from Verizon program in 2010, helping to support and put resources into the hands of those affected by domestic violence.

Numerous individuals and organizations including law enforcement partners and corporations rallied their communities by hosting HopeLine phone drives across the country. As a result of these donations, HopeLine collected more than 1.1 million phones and awarded more than $2.1 million grants to nearly 450 domestic violence prevention and awareness programs. Moreover, through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless provided 25,392 phones with a total of 75 million free minutes of service to shelters and agencies nationwide for use by clients.

"We'd like to thank each and every individual and organization that contributed to HopeLine in 2010," said Dan Mead, chief executive officer and president of Verizon Wireless. "While it may seem a small gesture, donating a no-longer-used cell phone may be a lifeline for many individuals in domestic violence situations and a vital link to emergency or support services in a time of crisis."

HopeLine from Verizon puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work in the community by collecting no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider. Verizon Wireless and the HopeLine program provide wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention, awareness and advocacy. Phones that cannot be refurbished are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero-landfill policy. Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones; awarded more than $10 million in cash grants to prevention and awareness programs nationwide; and donated more than 106,000 HopeLine phones with 319 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations.

Additionally, since 2007, the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, has awarded $21 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that support those affected by domestic violence.

To learn more about HopeLine from Verizon, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline or see more at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnkDUsmkQlk.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless