Verizon Wireless HopeLine Drive to Benefit Plano Domestic Violence Survivors

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless is launching a HopeLine® drive across Plano to collect no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories to benefit victims of domestic violence as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In support of the cause, the city of Plano in conjunction with Verizon Wireless and The Family Place, has proclaimed October, HopeLine Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Plano residents are encouraged to drop off their phone donations at their local Verizon Wireless store throughout the month of October and the remainder of year. The Verizon Wireless HopeLine program accepts wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any carrier at its Communications Stores nationwide. For survivors of domestic violence, a wireless phone can be a vital link to emergency or support services in a time of crisis or a reliable, safe connection to employers, family and friends.

"At The Family Place, raising awareness for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (NDVAM) is an important part of our mission to end the epidemic of family violence," says Paige Flink, Executive Director at The Family Place.  "We are excited to share the importance of this month with our city council and community on Oct. 8 at our mayoral proclamation with Verizon Wireless. The HopeLine drive will also give our community the opportunity to support our cause and directly help our clients."

Domestic violence is an issue that impacts every community. Texas generates the second highest volume of calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline of any state. Donating old phones to HopeLine will assist local domestic violence advocacy agencies, such as The Family Place working to end the cycle of abuse in Plano.

Phones given to HopeLine that can be refurbished are sold for reuse, and those that are not salvageable are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero landfill policy.  Proceeds generated from the sale of the refurbished phones are put toward wireless phones and service for survivors of domestic violence as well as financial grants to non-profit domestic violence organizations.

Since October of 2001 when Verizon Wireless launched HopeLine, its national phone recycling and reuse program, the company has collected more than 9 million no-old wireless phones and turned them into nearly $14.2 million in cash grants to support domestic violence victims. The HopeLine program has also distributed more than 123,000 phones with more than 406 million minutes of free wireless service to victims of domestic violence nationally. For more details about HopeLine visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

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.

Media contact:
Audrey Lundy
972-444-5516
[email protected]

SOURCE Verizon Wireless