Washington Recycles Nearly 35,000 Mobile Phones in 2008 Through Verizon Wireless'...

Washington Recycles Nearly 35,000 Mobile Phones in 2008 Through Verizon
Wireless' HopeLine(R) Program
Company donates more than two million minutes; $90,000 in cash grants to
shelters and domestic violence agencies in WA

BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers and businesses in
Washington donated 34,750 old and no-longer-used wireless phones and
accessories last year to Verizon Wireless' long-running HopeLine phone
recycling and reuse program.
Through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless collects no-longer-used wireless
phones, batteries and accessories from any wireless service provider and puts
the nation's most reliable wireless network to work in communities the company
serves by turning these unused wireless phones into support for victims of
domestic violence.
Support for Washington families
Thanks to the phones and accessories collected through HopeLine, last year
Verizon Wireless provided 737 wireless phones with more than 2 million minutes
of service (estimated value $221,000) to shelters and domestic violence
agencies throughout the state of Washington to help victims and survivors
rebuild their lives.
In addition, Verizon Wireless awarded $91,684 in cash grants to 19
Washington domestic violence agencies. The grants awarded in 2008 include:
-- New Beginnings, Seattle
-- Family Renewal Shelter, Tacoma
-- International Rescue-Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network,
Seattle
-- Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Seattle
-- Domestic Violence Services, Benton/Franklin Counties, Kennewick
-- Womencare Shelter, Bellingham
-- Ferry County Counseling Services, Republic
-- Eastside Domestic Violence Program, Bellevue
-- YWCA Pierce County, Tacoma
-- YWCA Spokane
-- Our Sister's House, Tacoma
-- DV & Special Assault Services of Whatcom County, Bellingham
-- Safe Place, Olympia
-- Crystal Judson Family Justice Center, Tacoma
-- Consejo Counseling & Referral Service, Seattle
-- Korean Women's Association, Tacoma
-- Jennifer Beach Foundation, Seattle
-- YWCA Clark County, Vancouver

Verizon Wireless also conducts HopeLine phone collections at home games
with the Seattle Mariners.
An ongoing commitment to curbing abuse
Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 5.6 million phones and
awarded more than $6.3 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies
and organizations throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has also donated
more than 76,000 HopeLine phones with 228 million minutes of airtime to
victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations.
The HopeLine program also includes #HOPE, which can be dialed from any
Verizon Wireless handset to immediately connect to the National Domestic
Violence Hotline. The hotline provides professional support and referrals to
people involved in domestic violence, as well as those who want to help
friends and family. The call to #HOPE is toll- and airtime-free.
How you can help
No-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition
from any wireless service provider are accepted in Verizon Wireless' 2,600
Communications Stores nationwide. For more information on Verizon Wireless'
HopeLine program and to learn how to donate a wireless phone, visit
http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Scott Charlston of Verizon Wireless, +1-425-603-2894,
Scott.Charlston@VerizonWireless.com