Verizon Wireless, Portland, Oregon Trail Blazers Team Up To Provide HopeLine For Survivors Of Domestic Violence

PORTLAND, OR — Verizon Wireless is teaming up with the Portland Trail Blazers for the fifth consecutive year to help curb domestic violence.

Fans attending the Trail Blazers game against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m., are being encouraged to donate used wireless phones and accessories to benefit survivors of domestic violence through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine^® program.

HopeLine drop boxes will be located at all Rose Garden entrances by 6:30 p.m. Every fan who brings in any used wireless phone will receive a voucher for a free ticket, with the purchase of a ticket, for the April 15 game against the Memphis Grizzlies (while supplies last).

Through the HopeLine program, used wireless phones, batteries and accessories from any service provider are recycled or refurbished and sold. Verizon Wireless uses the proceeds to award grants and wireless phones with airtime to non-profit human services and law enforcement agencies to aid survivors of domestic violence.

Last year, Portland Trail Blazers fans donated more than 600 used wireless phones and accessories to HopeLine. Those donations helped Verizon Wireless award more than $105,000 in Hopeline grants, wireless phones and airtime to several of Oregon's domestic violence programs in 2007, including Woman's Crisis Line of Portland, YWCA of Portland, Bradley Angle House, Raphael House of Portland.

Since HopeLine's national phone recycling and re-use program was launched nationwide in 2001, Verizon Wireless:

• Has collected more than 4.5 million phones
• Awarded more than $5 million in cash grants to domestic violence agencies and organizations throughout the country
• Distributed more than 60,000 phones with more than 160 million minutes of free airtime and other features to be used by victims of domestic violence
• Properly disposed of more than 700,000 no-longer-used wireless phones in an environmentally sound way
• Kept more than 200 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills

Wireless phones and equipment can be donated to the HopeLine program year-round at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store across the country.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: 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 The Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, members of the National Basketball Association (NBA), were founded in 1970, and purchased by Paul G. Allen in 1988. The team's rich heritage includes 26 playoff appearances, an NBA championship in 1977 and a commitment to community service. With a corporate mission to "Make It Better," the Trail Blazers strive to help children and their families throughout Oregon and southwest Washington learn, play, grow, get involved and live healthier lives. The Trail Blazers are the first and only pro sports franchise to receive the prestigious National Points of Light Award for excellence in corporate community service. A long-time partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland led to the establishment of the Blazers Boys & Girls Club, the first team-sponsored club of its kind, and has resulted in contributions of more than $1 million. The Albina Head Start McCormack-Matthews Center, which provides education and health services to preschoolers and their families, was established in 2004 with nearly $1 million in contributions from Allen, the team, and former Trail Blazers star — and Portland native — Damon Stoudamire. For more information on the trailblazers visit www.trailblazers.com.  ####