Phone Donations Earn Community Members 'Hero' Honors in Massachusetts

WOBURN, MA — During October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, many organizations throughout the nation will look to community members for support of local programs that help victims of domestic violence. Verizon Wireless, a company that, for nearly 10 years, has dedicated itself to preventing domestic violence, will recognize New England-based organizations and community members with 'HopeLine Hero' awards, which honor those who have supported victims through the Verizon Wireless' HopeLine^SM program.

The recipients of the first New England HopeLine Hero awards are the Boston Police Department and Lillian O'Donnell of Medford, Massachusetts.

During the last 18 months, the Boston Police Department's Property Management Unit, led by Mr. Brian Delehanty, has donated all wireless phones collected to Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program - an estimated 500 to date.

O'Donnell, an active community member and volunteer, has orchestrated an annual phone collection drive through her church, the Immaculate Conception Church of Medford/Malden, resulting in the donation of more than 250 phones each year. In addition to the used phone drive completed each Spring, O'Donnell has also helped initiate collection drives for much-needed toiletries, baby clothes and other items, which are also donated to area domestic violence shelters, including HarborCOV of Chelsea.

Recipients of the first HopeLine Heroes Award will receive a custom-designed plaque from Bob Stott, president of Verizon Wireless' New England region, at a brief award ceremony to be held at the Verizon Wireless Communications Store located in Gateway Centre Plaza in Everett, Mass. on Tuesday, October 26th at 3:30 p.m.

The HopeLine Hero award will be given to individuals or businesses that have gone above and beyond to support the HopeLine program through donation, volunteerism, and domestic violence awareness and awarded both in October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month) and in April (Victims Awareness Month), when national attention is focused on the societal epidemic of domestic violence.

"The HopeLine Program is effective because of the strong support of communities and businesses dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence," said Bob Stott, New England Region president, Verizon Wireless. "We know that it takes energy, effort, and time to manage such projects, like organizing phone drives, and we've created the HopeLine Hero award to express our gratitude to those who have shown continued support of domestic violence victims."

The Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program focuses on putting wireless products and services to work to prevent domestic violence and assist victims in emergency domestic violence situations. No-longer-used phones regardless of make, model or carrier are collected and refurbished or recycled, with all proceeds benefiting victims of domestic violence. Donations are accepted at all 1,200+ Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. More information on HopeLine can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

Note to editors: If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Wendy Bulawa at 617-851-3426 for directions/details.

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 40.4 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.  To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.

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