Two Columbia Organizations Receive Assistance From Bell Atlantic Mobile to Fight Domestic Violence

COLUMBIA, SC — One woman at Killingsworth Home wanted desperately to make a better life for herself, but residing at a shelter offered her limited phone access, making it difficult for her to maintain contact with potential employers and service agencies. Now, with a wireless voice mail box from Bell Atlantic Mobile, Cindy can schedule job interviews, set up appointments with physicians, and arrange training sessions for her current job.

In a continuing effort to help victims of domestic violence and homeless individuals, Bell Atlantic Mobile has donated three HopeLine® wireless voice mail boxes to Killingsworth Home. The voice mail boxes are now available to residents of the shelter, enabling those individuals to seek and secure jobs, seek medical attention, locate housing, and maintain contact with family members.

In conjunction with its community service initiative, Bell Atlantic Mobile had previously donated two wireless phones and 20 wireless voice mail boxes to Killingsworth Home, and four phones and 25 wireless voice mail boxes to Sistercare. Both donations were made through the company's "Wireless at Work..." community service program, which is part of its corporate commitment to provide wireless technology -- phones, voice mail boxes, and airtime -- to those most in need. Last year, over 200 individuals found employment, established living quarters, and maintained contact with social service agencies, family and friends, and made calls to ensure personal safety with the help of the donated wireless voice mail boxes and cellular phones.

Killingsworth Home is a transition home for women recovering from crises. Residents are offered food, shelter, counseling, job development, and referrals to community resources. In 1998, 15 individuals used the Killingsworth voice mail boxes from Bell Atlantic Mobile.

The company also has donated four wireless phones and 10 wireless voice mail boxes to Sistercare, an organization that provides services for battered women and their children. The phones are available to high-risk victims of domestic violence, enabling them to quickly receive emergency police or medical attention 24 hours a day.

"Bell Atlantic Mobile's wireless phones are a needed tool in providing a sense of security in our clients' lives," said Nancy Barton, executive director of Sistercare. "These phones and voice mail boxes will be instrumental in helping build our clients' self- esteem and will provide a portable lifeline at the touch of a button."

"Statistics show that domestic violence victims are more likely to be hurt or killed if they leave their abuser," said Andrea Orr, Bell Atlantic Mobile sales manager for the Columbia area. "They are faced with potential life-threatening situations just about anywhere -- on the way to work, dropping off their children at school, doing their grocery shopping -- and they often don't have access to landline phones. Bell Atlantic Mobile is proud to donate its wireless technology to provide victims of domestic violence with the security of knowing that help is only a phone call away."

Editor's Note: Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the East and systems in the Southwest, covering 180,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data, and paging. Based in Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile has 6.6 million customers and 8,000 employees from Maine to Georgia and in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas. Through its "Wireless at Work..." community service program, the company uses its technology to help individuals and communities improve security and emergency communications. Bell Atlantic Mobile's parent, Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE:BEL) is one of the world's largest wireless communications companies, with domestic operations in 25 states and international investments in Mexico, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit: www.bam.com; on global operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.

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