Verizon Wireless and the Philadelphia Eagles Team up for Eighth Consecutive Year to Sideline Domestic Violence

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and the Philadelphia Eagles will team up once again to help victims of domestic violence in the Philadelphia Tri-State Region. For the eighth consecutive year, fans are encouraged to donate no-longer-used wireless phones, from any provider, to benefit victims of domestic violence through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program Sunday, October 30, at the Eagles vs. Cowboys home game.

"Verizon Wireless is a corporate leader in the fight to end domestic violence in our region," said Ari Roitman, Eagles Senior Vice President of Business. "Through our eight-year partnership, we hope to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims and encourage our fans to bring their no-longer-used phones to the stadium and help support this worthwhile cause."

Eagles fans can bring their wireless phones, from any provider, to the game and deposit them in the HopeLine collection bins at the entrance of Lincoln Financial Field. Phones can also be dropped off at the club and suite gate entrances, as well as the employee check-in and press gates. Phones will be collected until the 8:20 p.m. kickoff. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. Fans who won't be  in attendance Sunday can donate their wireless phones at any Verizon Wireless store or mail them in using the free postage-paid label, which can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

Through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine^® program, the phones will be refurbished and recycled or sold. Proceeds will be used to purchase wireless phones for use by domestic violence survivors in emergency or life-threatening situations. The HopeLine program also provides an environmentally friendly method for recycling used cell phones and has kept more than 210 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills and aligns nicely with the Eagles Go Green sustainability initiative. Go Green recycling and composting programs have diverted more than 3 million pounds of waste from going into landfills.

"We are proud to partner again with the Philadelphia Eagles, as we continue to work together to put phones into the hands of domestic violence victims while at the same time protecting the environment," said Mario Turco, President of Verizon Wireless' Philadelphia Tri-State Region. "These phones serve as a lifeline for victims in need and we ask all Eagles fans to clean out their junk drawers and donate their no-longer-used phones to help support abuse survivors across our region."

Over the past eight years, Eagles fans have donated more than 5,000 phones through the annual game-day collections. Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than eight million phones through its HopeLine program and more than 1.7 million phones have been recycled. Additionally, more than $10 million in cash grants has been awarded to domestic violence prevention and awareness programs across the country. No-longer-needed wireless phones are accepted at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in the Philadelphia Tri-State Region and at company retail locations across the country. All wireless phone models, batteries and chargers from any carrier are accepted.

For store locations and additional information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.
For more information on the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles, visit the Eagles official Web site at www.PhiladelphiaEagles.com.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 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