Verizon Kicks Off Grand Opening Weekend at New Jamaica Avenue Store With HopeLine Grant to Safe Horizon

JAMAICA, N.Y. Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced the opening of a new store on Jamaica Avenue in Queens, New York, providing local residents with a convenient neighborhood destination for wireless devices, accessories and support from the largest, most reliable network in the country.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100115/NY38695-a)

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100115/NY38695-b)

This morning, Verizon Wireless kicked off its grand opening weekend with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a $5,000 grant to Safe Horizon, the nation's largest provider of domestic violence services with a strong Queens community presence. Prominent members of the community attended to support the grand opening and check presentation, including Joanna Colangelo from Safe Horizon, and Melva Miller, the director of economic development for the Queens Borough President's Office.

"We are excited to officially open our newest store in Queens and invest in one of the communities we serve by supporting a cause that we are passionate about," said Pat Devlin, New York Metro Regional President, Verizon Wireless. "For more than a decade, Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program has put the network to work in the community by turning unused wireless phones into support for victims of domestic abuse. We hope that these small steps help contribute to a greater awareness of domestic violence throughout the NY Metro area."

"We are so grateful for this grant from Verizon Wireless and the support that it can help provide individuals in this community who have been affected in some way by domestic abuse," said Joanna Colangelo, corporate development manager, Safe Horizon. "With Verizon's support, Safe Horizon will be able to work toward fulfilling our commitment to supporting abuse victims and preventing abuse from happening to others."

Verizon Wireless will also celebrate the grand opening of the store, located at 161-21 Jamaica Avenue with the following activities and offers:

• Saturday – The first 10 customers will receive a $25 Verizon Wireless gift card when the door opens at noon. There will be fun for all ages with free games, face painting, snacks and raffle prizes from 12-4 PM
• Sunday – Radio personalities from WBLS, New York's station for R&B and classic soul, will be broadcasting live from the store from 1-3 PM

The HopeLine program collects old phones and accessories from consumers and then either refurbishes or recycles the donated phones. Proceeds benefit local domestic violence victims in the form of wireless phones with service and cash grants to domestic violence advocacy groups. In 2009, the HopeLine program donated more than $50,000 to victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence advocacy groups. Wireless devices and accessories from all manufacturers are accepted at HopeLine collection bins at all Verizon Wireless Communications stores in New York City and across the nation.

In addition to today's store opening and HopeLine donation, Verizon Wireless encourages customers to contribute, via mobile phone, to the Haiti earthquake relief effort (To make a $10 donation to the American Red Cross, text 90999 with the word "HAITI".)  Verizon Wireless and other U.S. wireless companies are supporting nationwide text message campaigns for the Haiti relief effort, with contributions going to the American Red Cross, Wyclef Jean's Yele Foundation, the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund, the International Medical Corp, and many more.  Additionally, The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, has committed $50,000 in grants to World Vision, a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to tackle poverty and injustice; and $50,000 in grants to Food for the Poor, a nonprofit organization that provides direct relief assistance throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Verizon has also launched a donation matching program whereby the Verizon Foundation will match 1-to-1 every dollar donated by Verizon employees to those organizations, up to $1,000 per employee.

For store locations and to learn how to donate a phone downloading a postage paid-mailing label, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

For more information on Verizon Wireless, please visit www.verizonwireless.com or call 1-800-2-JOIN IN. Follow us on Twitter.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: 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.

About Safe Horizon

Safe Horizon is the nation's leading victim assistance organization and touches the lives of more than 350,000 victims of crime and abuse each year. Whether they are responding to child abuse, domestic violence, or other violent crimes, they help victims and their families heal and rebuild their lives. www.safehorizon.org

SOURCE Verizon Wireless