The National Network to End Domestic Violence and Verizon Team Up to Create the First Catalog of Testimonies From the Domestic Violence Community

Basking Ridge, N.J., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of their ongoing commitment to domestic violence awareness and prevention, the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and Verizon will embark on an eight-city cross-country domestic violence awareness tour called Journey of Hope to commemorate October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  The Journey of Hope tour is the first-ever initiative to collect and record domestic violence stories with smartphones and tablets.  The program also gives consumers easy options to support those affected by domestic violence by donating no-longer-used phones and texting donations to support organizations that work with domestic violence victims and survivors.  Verizon will also make a donation to a local domestic violence organization in each city.  

One in every four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime and nearly three out of four Americans personally know someone who has been a victim of domestic violence.  At each tour stop, Verizon and NNEDV will host public events where members of the domestic violence community can record video of their personal experiences on Verizon Wireless smartphones and tablets.  The testimonies will then be posted on Facebook^® at www.facebook.com/Verizon (under the HopeLine tab) to further the discussion about this community issue.

"We are thrilled to partner with Verizon on the Journey of Hope, and we are so grateful that HopeLine from Verizon will generously make a donation at each tour stop," said Sue Else, president of NNEDV.  "NNEDV and Verizon's Journey of Hope promotes non-judgmental support to all domestic violence victims.  It reminds members of the community of our shared responsibility to take action and to become a part of ending domestic violence once and for all."

"Verizon is proud to partner with the NNEDV for the Journey of Hope tour to raise awareness about the devastating issue of domestic violence, and use our technology to help record stories of perseverance," said Marquett Smith, vice president, corporate communications, Verizon Wireless.  "Verizon is committed to putting our technology to work in order to help and change lives."

Each Journey of Hope tour stop will also serve as an education center for the public to learn more about domestic violence prevention and the resources available to the public.  Attendees can donate their no-longer-used phones from any carrier to support the cause and text-to-donate to help the NNEDV continue their efforts and work to end domestic violence.  Those who cannot attend the events in person can still get involved by going to www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline to participate, pledge their support or make a wireless donation.

The Journey of Hope tour begins on Oct. 2, 2011, in Green Bay, Wis. and ends in Dallas on Oct. 28, 2011, and will stop in the following cities:

• Green Bay, Wis. (Oct. 2)
• Philadelphia (Oct. 5)
• Washington, D.C. (Oct. 8-9)
• Atlanta (Oct. 11)
• Chicago (Oct. 16)
• Los Angeles (TBD)
• San Francisco (TBD)
• Dallas (TBD)

Those interested in supporting victims of domestic violence can do so by texting "HOPE" to 41010 to make a one-time $10 donation to NNEDV, the largest network of state domestic violence coalitions in the nation.  Donations will support NNEDV's awareness and prevention efforts and provide domestic violence victims with necessary resources.  Verizon will waive text messaging fees and 100 percent of each $10 donation will go to NNEDV.  The $10 donation will appear on customers' next regular monthly bill as a part of the text-to-donate campaign.

In addition, 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, and proceeds are donated to organizations that work against domestic violence in the form of cash grants and prepaid Verizon Wireless phones for survivors.  Phones that cannot be refurbished are disposed of in an environmentally sound way.  Consumers can donate their phones at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or by mail using the postage-paid mailing label available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel.

Verizon Wireless continues to raise awareness about this important social issue by introducing the Samsung Intensity^™ II in Purple, which customers can purchase starting Sept. 29.  The color purple has symbolized domestic violence for more than 20 years.  

About NNEDV

NNEDV, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a leading voice for domestic violence victims and their allies.  Its members include the 56 state and territorial coalitions against domestic violence.  It works closely with them to understand the needs of domestic violence victims and advocacy programs.  NNEDV has been a premiere national organization advancing the movement against domestic violence for the past 17 years, after leading efforts among domestic violence advocates and survivors in urging Congress to pass the landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994.  To learn more about NNEDV, please visit www.nnedv.org.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 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