Verizon Wireless Teams Up With The Buffalo Bills To Combat Domestic Violence

BUFFALO, NY — Verizon Wireless and the Buffalo Bills will collect no-longer-used wireless phones to benefit victims of domestic violence at this Sunday's Bills game vs. the Detroit Lions. Through Verizon Wireless' HopeLineSM program, these phones will be refurbished for donation to domestic violence victims, and/or recycled and sold with proceeds used to benefit and purchase new phones for non-profit domestic violence organizations. Wireless phones provide victims of domestic violence with a means to call for help in a threatening situation.

HopeLine spokesperson, Bills linebacker London Fletcher, encourages fans to bring their no longer used wireless phones to the game and deposit them in collection bins at any of the 10 gates as they enter Ralph Wilson Stadium. The first 1,000 fans to donate a phone will receive a London Fletcher poster. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.

Prior to kickoff, Verizon Wireless will present the first annual HopeLine Award to an individual from the Buffalo area who has helped to combat domestic violence or assisted victims of this tragedy within their own community. The winner will be presented with a plaque honoring her efforts and $500 will be donated on behalf of the winner to the domestic violence shelter or program of her choice.

"By doing something as simple as donating a wireless phone you no longer use, you can truly make a difference for a victim of domestic violence," said John Palmer, president of Verizon Wireless' Upstate New York Region. "Our main community relations focus is to prevent domestic violence, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to use wireless technology for this important purpose."

"Thousands of women are abused and assaulted every day," stated London Fletcher, Buffalo Bills linebacker and HopeLine spokesperson. "We know we can count on our fans to help out by simply digging through their junk drawers and donating their no longer used phones to HopeLine, either at the game this Sunday or at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the state."

About the HopeLine Program
The national HopeLine program distributes previously owned wireless phones to victims of domestic violence, supports non-profit domestic violence advocacy groups and provides an environmentally safe method for recycling phones. As a result of HopeLine and related phone recycling programs the company has organized since 1995, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 500,000 used wireless phones for the benefit of domestic violence victims and advocacy groups, including nearly 10,000 wireless handsets in the Philadelphia Tri-State area.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 30.3 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.

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