Verizon Wireless And The Chicago Blackhawks To Provide A HopeLine For Victims Of Domestic Violence

CHICAGO, IL — Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.* In Illinois, thousands of individuals and families are affected each year. Verizon Wireless and the Chicago Blackhawks are inviting fans to use their retired wireless phones to help victims of domestic violence in Illinois.

            On Friday, April 4, prior to the game against the St. Louis Blues, used wireless phones and accessories will be collected for the Verizon Wireless HopeLine^SM program at all United Center gate entrances. The wireless phone collection will begin at 6 p.m. and will last until game time (7:30 p.m.). 

            Through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program, used wireless handsets, batteries and accessories from any wireless company are collected, refurbished, recycled, and/or sold.  Proceeds are donated to non-profit domestic violence advocacy organizations and used to purchase handsets for domestic violence victims, including those throughout Illinois.

            “This program enables our fans to donate a wireless phone they are no longer using and turn it into a lifeline for a member of the community,” said Brian Sutter, head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks “We know we can count on our fans to help out and make a difference for domestic violence victims by putting their old phones to good use and bringing them to the United Center on April 4.”

            “Together with the Chicago Blackhawks, we can score a real win for domestic violence prevention,” said Tracy Nolan - president, Illinois/Wisconsin Region, Verizon Wireless.  “It’s important that domestic violence prevention and advocacy agencies and the victims they serve have access to the HopeLine program. The phones we collect during this Blackhawks event will improve that access. We’re grateful for the team’s high-profile, whole-hearted support.”

            The company’s HopeLine program was created in 1995 to put wireless products and services to work to combat domestic violence.  In the past two years alone, Verizon Wireless has donated more than 10,000 wireless phones in addition to airtime and more than $1 million in monetary and other contributions to domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country. 

            As a major sponsor of the Chicago Blackhawks, Verizon Wireless has also joined forces with the team in other initiatives supporting domestic violence awareness and prevention.  These include:

• Verizon Wireless has produced a 30-second public service announcement (PSA) featuring Brian Sutter, former player and current head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, and his wife, Judy, to build awareness, and reduce instances, of domestic violence throughout Illinois.  The PSA is being shown on the United Center jumbotron during each Blackhawks home game and has been distributed to television stations throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana for broadcast during the 2003 season.
• Verizon Wireless is donating $75 for domestic violence prevention for each goal scored by the Blackhawks at the United Center during the 2002-03 season.  To date, more than $6,200 has been raised.

*The Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Woman’s Lifespan: 1998 Survey of Women’s Health, May 1999

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 32.5 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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