As Football Season Kicks Off, Community Support Is Biggest Part Of The Game

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless service provider, is sponsoring 13 professional football teams throughout the nation this season, continuing to strengthen community ties, working with star players and football fans to raise domestic violence awareness, providing fans with inside-looks from coaches and players and encouraging fans to have a blast throughout the pro football season.

A long time supporter of local pro football teams, Verizon Wireless proudly sponsors 13 teams this season. Through in-store appearances by star players, local text messaging sweepstakes and HopeLine® phone donation drives, supporting victims of domestic violence, Verizon Wireless encourages fans to take the game-time excitement beyond the field. In addition, Verizon Wireless sponsors individual teams' Coach's Corners through which customers can sign up to receive an Info Alert providing them with exclusive team news directly from the team's coach and front offices. Verizon Wireless has sponsorships with the following pro football teams:

Atlanta Falcons — Georgia Region

• Sponsor for four years
• Coach's Corner Info Alert service
• In addition to Verizon Wireless Falcons sponsorship, Verizon Wireless has signed an agreement with Falcons tight end, Alge Crumpler to feature Crumpler's likeness in connection with Verizon Wireless products in print and broadcast materials

Buffalo Bills — New York Region

• Sponsor for five years
• Coach's Corner Info Alert service
• Sponsor of TXT chats with Bill's general manager, Tom Donahoe and current TV broadcaster and former Bill, Steve Tasker
• TXT2Win Sweepstakes contest to win a trip to the post-season Big Game
• Official wireless sponsor of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher College
• Sponsor of Opening Day each year with halftime giveaway to the post-season's Big Game
• Bills linebacker London Fletcher is a third-year HopeLine spokesplayer, helping Verizon Wireless raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence in our communities
• Actively organize the annual HopeLine phone drive at the October 9 game versus the Miami Dolphins. For the last four years, the Bills and Verizon Wireless have teamed up to collect more than 2,000 no-longer-used phones to benefit victims of domestic violence. 
• Five in-store appearances by Bills players, Buffalo Bills cheerleaders and Billy the Buffalo team mascot this year
• Exclusive pre- and post-game radio broadcast sponsor

Cleveland Browns — Ohio Region

• Sponsor for four years of Verizon Wireless/Cleveland Browns radio spots for local radio station

Cincinnati Bengals — Ohio Region

• Sponsor for four years of Verizon Wireless/Cincinnati Bengals radio spots for local radio station
• Signage outside Paul Brown Stadium

Dallas Cowboys — Central Texas Region

• Sponsor for four years
• Verizon Wireless is considered the "official and exclusive wireless communications provider" of the Dallas Cowboys
• Sponsor of Dallas Cowboy Radio Network including "Verizon Wireless Call from the Sidelines", in-game updates from sideline reporters
• Local in-store appearances by multiple Cowboys' players and cheerleaders
• Other public appearances by Cowboys' owner, Jerry Jones and other Cowboys staff members
• Sponsors "Verizon Wireless Day" during one home game each season which includes an on field promotion
• Signage and other promotional materials with the Cowboys and Texas Stadium
• Organized the "Protection is the Name of the Game" program with the Cowboys to benefit domestic violence organizations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area

Denver Broncos — Colorado Region

• Sponsor for two years
• Coach's Corner Info Alert service
• Organized Broncos ticket give-a-ways
• Organized game-day HopeLine drives at specific games during the season with participation from Broncos' players' wives
• Local in-store appearances by Broncos players, Broncos Cheerleaders and "Miles the Mascot"

Green Bay Packers - Wisconsin Region

• Sponsor since 1999
• In 2002, Verizon Wireless signed seven-year agreement to be an official "Gate Sponsor," making the company "the official wireless provider" for the Green Bay Packers and Lambeau Field. 
• Coach's Corner Info Alert service
• TXT2Win Sweepstake contests
• Organized game-day HopeLine drives for the past four years and collected approximately 1,400 phones
• Organized the "Protection is the Name of the Game" program with the Packers to benefit domestic violence organizations throughout the state of Wisconsin

Houston Texans — Texas Region 

• Sponsor for four years
• Verizon Wireless is considered the "official wireless service provider" of the Houston Texans
• Texans TXT service where fans can sign up to get the latest team information and game-day updates sent directly to their Verizon Wireless phones
• Verizon Wireless is "Club" level sponsor at Reliant Stadium
• Local in-store appearances by celebrity players, Toro the mascot and team cheerleaders
• HopeLine phone drive during a home game in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• Sponsor of Texans Foundation Charity Golf Tournament

Miami Dolphins — Florida Region

• Sponsor for four years
• Verizon Wireless is considered the "official wireless service provider" of the Miami Dolphins
• Last year alone, there were a total of eight in-store appearances by top Dolphins players like Jason Taylor, team cheerleaders and the team mascot
• Began the Dolphins Connection TXT service where fans can sign up to get latest game-day updates sent directly to their Verizon Wireless phones
• Organized game-day HopeLine drives for the past three years
• Organized the Dolphins' Connection Section and donated 400 tickets per Dolphin home game to various charities in South Florida

New York Giants — New York Metro Region

• Sponsor for seven years
• Verizon Wireless is the "official wireless service provider" of the New York Giants
• Coach's Corner Info Alert service
• Verizon Wireless has been Presenting Sponsor at the Giants' Draft Day Party
• Sponsor of Giants Training Camp corporate hospitality event
• Verizon Wireless offered fans a TXT chat with former Giants' player, Harry Carson
• As part of sponsorship, former Giants' player Harry Carson spoke at Verizon Wireless' Agent Channel's Kickoff and at Verizon Wireless' Winner Circle recognition dinner
• In-store appearances at local Edgewater, NY store by former Giant, Harry Carson
• TXT Messaging trivia contests where fans can answer trivia questions for a chance to attend the post-season's Big Game
• Worked with Giants during their "Kids Clinic" where some attendees, through the HopeLine program, were children from Domestic Violence shelters
• Grand opening events have featured Harry Carson, Tiki Barber and Michael Strahan
• Sponsor of Giants Game Plan show on Sunday mornings

Philadelphia Eagles — Philadelphia Region

• Sponsor for seven years
• During the 2003-2004 season, Verizon Wireless signed seven-year agreement with the Eagles to become an official "Founding Partner", making the company the "official wireless service provider" for the Philadelphia Eagles and Lincoln Financial Field
• Coach's Corner Info Alert service
• Launched TXT4TIX Trivia Contest where fans can answer trivia questions for a chance to attend the post-season's Big Game
• Appearances by Eagles mascot, Swoop and Eagles players at local events
• Presenting sponsor for Draft Day
• Official Training Camp sponsor
• Organized free football clinic led by Eagles players to benefit Philadelphia-area youth
• For the past two years, the Eagles organization has lent support to Verizon Wireless' annual "Packs for Pride" project, an initiative run by Verizon Wireless employees in the company's Philadelphia Region that provides backpacks filled with clothing, toys and other items to children living in domestic violence shelters and safe houses
• Organized game-day HopeLine drives and collected approximately 1,200 phones

Pittsburgh Steelers — Pittsburgh Region

• Sponsor for three years of Verizon Wireless half-time show on KDKA-TV
• Verizon Wireless Extra Point-Title Sponsor
• Sponsors post-season Big Game trip give-a-ways

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Florida Region

• Sponsor for five years
• As a top sponsor and member of the Buccaneers' Pewter Partners, Verizon Wireless is the team's "official wireless service provider" 
• Last year alone, there were a total of eight in-store appearances by top Buccaneers players like Derrick Brooks, team cheerleaders and the team mascot
• Began the Buccaneers Connection TXT service where fans can sign up to get latest game-day updates sent directly to their Verizon Wireless phones
• Organized game-day HopeLine drives for the past three years 
• Training Camp bobble-head promotions at local Orlando Verizon Wireless Communications stores

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data 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 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.  

About HopeLine®
Verizon Wireless encourages customers who are upgrading their wireless phone to participate in its exclusive HopeLine phone-recycling 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 of recycling phones. Donations are accepted at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store across the country. For additional information, customers can also visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

####