Champions for Domestic Violence Awareness: HopeLine® From Verizon and NOBLE Join Together to put No-Longer-Used Phones to Good Use

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) is launching its fourth annual HopeLine® from Verizon phone collection drive at chapter locations nationwide.  In addition to chapter members, the general public is encouraged to participate throughout October and November.  All collected phones will be donated to HopeLine from Verizon to benefit victims of domestic violence.

"HopeLine from Verizon and NOBLE have always enjoyed a collaborative partnership, and I look forward to once again participating in this worthy telephone collection drive.  Our participation in HopeLine from Verizon is an example of NOBLE members standing together to combat domestic violence and its unfortunate effects on our communities and families," said Patrick R. Melvin, NOBLE national president.  "I challenge our communities to call a friend, family member or colleague and encourage them to make a difference by donating their no-longer-used cell phones at any of NOBLE's 53 chapter offices and events nationwide."

HopeLine from Verizon collects no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories in any condition from any carrier for reuse and recycling at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or by mail via the postage-paid label available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel.  Phones given to HopeLine that can be refurbished are sold for reuse, and those without value are recycled in an environmentally sound way.  Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to provide wireless phones and cash grants to local advocacy organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.  Learn more at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnkDUsmkQlk.    

In recognition of previous HopeLine collections, Verizon Wireless has presented three NOBLE chapters – Georgia, South Florida and Pittsburgh – with the company's HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Award.  This award honors the efforts of public safety officials who are committed to reducing domestic violence, providing support to victims, and raising awareness and educating communities about domestic violence.

Since the creation of HopeLine from Verizon in 1995, Verizon Wireless has partnered with law enforcement and government agencies in communities nationwide.  Support from HopeLine from Verizon includes:

• Donating wireless phones and service, high-speed Mobile Broadband Internet service and cash grants to prosecutors, detectives and other personnel in local government domestic violence units
• Sponsoring phone collection drives in cooperation with local sheriff and police departments
• Partnering with several states' Attorneys General offices to create campaigns around elder abuse, teen dating and other domestic violence issues
• Sponsoring the American Bar Association's National Domestic Violence Pro Bono directory at www.probono.net/dv

To read about HopeLine's law enforcement support and previous award recipients or to learn more about HopeLine from Verizon, 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 92 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 79,000 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.  

About NOBLE

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) serves as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to justice by action.  NOBLE represents over 3,000 members nationwide, primarily African-American chief executive officers of law enforcement agencies at federal, state, county and municipal levels, other law enforcement administrators, and criminal justice practitioners.

SOURCE Verizon