Verizon Wireless Kicks Off 2010 Community Giving With $10,000 Donation To Walter Reed Society

LAUREL, Md., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Only weeks into the new year, the Maryland/DC/Virginia region of Verizon Wireless is kicking off its annual community giving with a $10,000 donation to the Walter Reed Society, Inc., a non-profit group that provides support to wounded soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the nation's largest military research facility located in Washington, DC.  The donation follows an earlier contribution of $10,000 from the company in December 2009 to provide 2,500 wounded soldiers with free long-distance calling cards to use during the holidays.

"There's nothing more satisfying than helping the wonderful men and women recovering at Walter Reed," said Mike Maiorana, regional president, Verizon Wireless.  "I am humbled by their courage and by the dedication of the doctors and nurses who are working so hard each and every day to improve the lives of wounded veterans.  We couldn't think of a better way to start our year of corporate giving than by this donation to the Walter Reed Society."

Last year, Verizon Wireless contributed $155,000 in financial support to nonprofits in the region and also provided thousands of free phones with complimentary wireless service to organizations in need.  The donations were made through the company's HopeLine ® program, which collects no-longer-used wireless phones – all models, from all wireless carriers – and accessories to be refurbished, recycled or sold.  Proceeds benefit victims of domestic violence through grants and the donation of wireless phones and service.

Since HopeLine's recycling program was launched nationwide in 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 6.7 million phones; awarded more than $7.9 million in cash grants to prevention and awareness programs nationwide; donated more than 90,000 HopeLine phones with 300 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations; and kept more than 200 tons of electronic wastes and batteries out of landfills.  Phones are accepted at Verizon Wireless stores across the nation and in special collections organized with community groups, schools and law enforcement organizations.  For additional program information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and 3G data network, serving more than 91 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with  83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (Nasdaq 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.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless