Make a Difference in Georgia During Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Donate No-Longer-Used Cell Phones to HopeLine Program

/PRNewswire/ -- Looking for a way to take part in the cause during Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October? HopeLine® from Verizon gives consumers a way to support victims and local domestic violence organizations in and around the state of Georgia by collecting no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider.

HopeLine from Verizon puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work in the community by turning no-longer-used wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence. Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to provide wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence and cash grants to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention, awareness and advocacy. Consumers can donate their phones at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores nationwide or by mail using the postage-paid mailing label available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel.

Verizon has a longstanding commitment to raising awareness of domestic violence and aiding in its prevention. In 2009 alone, the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon donated more than 18,000 phones to domestic violence organizations in Georgia. The company also continues to work with the Atlanta Falcons to collect phones during key football games, extending the recognition of the HopeLine program. Additional efforts include:

* Text-to-Donate Program – Verizon and the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) are teaming up to launch the text-to-donate program. Customers can make a $10 donation to the NNEDV by texting "HOPE" to 41010. One hundred percent of each $10 donation will go to the NNEDV and its affiliated state domestic violence coalitions. Verizon will waive its customers' text messaging fees, and customers' $10 donations will appear on their next monthly bills. As part the text-to-donate campaign, HopeLine from Verizon will also match donations up to $50,000.
* "Telling Amy's Story" – A powerful documentary on domestic violence that chronicles the time leading up to the death of Amy Homan McGee, a mother of two who was shot and killed by her husband. The documentary, created by Pennsylvania State University Public Broadcasting, is currently airing on local PBS stations throughout Georgia and will be shown at South Georgia College on October 11, followed by a panel discussion. The documentary was funded through Verizon Foundation grants in the amount of $385,000.
* Samsung Gusto™ – The color purple has symbolized domestic violence awareness and prevention for over 20 years. To honor DVAM, a purple edition of the simple and sleek Samsung Gusto will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on Oct. 1 and will be free after a $50 mail-in rebate for the month of October.


"Verizon has a long history of raising awareness of domestic violence and taking action to aid in its prevention," said Jeff Mango, president, Verizon Wireless Georgia/Alabama Region. "Through the HopeLine program and our efforts throughout the state, we are going one step further in spreading the word about domestic violence and helping victims during DVAM this year."

Since the launch of the HopeLine phone recycling program in 2001, HopeLine from Verizon has collected more than 7 million phones, given out more than $7.9 million in cash grants, and distributed more than 90,000 phones with more than 300 million minutes of free wireless service for use by domestic violence survivors. In addition, Verizon has properly disposed of 1.6 million no-longer-used wireless phones in an environmentally sound way and kept more than 200 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.

For more information about HopeLine from Verizon and to learn how to organize a HopeLine drive during DVAM, go to www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

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Start The School Year Right - Donate Your Old Cell Phone to HopeLine

/PRNewswire/ -- Students with the hottest new cell phones on their back-to-school shopping lists have an easy way to get rid of their old ones. Verizon Wireless encourages students and their parents to donate their no-longer-used cell phones and accessories to HopeLine®, the company's cell phone recycling and refurbishing program, to benefit victims of domestic violence.

HopeLine collects no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider. The phones are then refurbished or recycled in an environmentally sound way. Refurbished phones - complete with 3,000 minutes of wireless service - are provided to local domestic violence organizations or local government and law enforcement agencies for use with their domestic violence clients.

As part of the refurbishing and recycling processes, HopeLine's recycling vendor removes all customer information from donated phones, including contacts, text messages, games and apps, and images, prior to distributing the cell phones for reuse.

Donating a no-longer-used wireless phone to HopeLine is an easy way for students to help victims of domestic violence and support domestic violence awareness organizations. Students, graduates and family members can donate their wireless phones and accessories at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store across the country. For students who can't make it to a store, phones and accessories can also be sent by mail with the postage-paid label. Students, faculty members and parents planning activities and events for their schools, colleges or universities should also consider organizing a HopeLine phone drive.

Since the October 2001 launch of the HopeLine cell phone recycling program, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 7 million phones, distributed more than 90,000 phones with free wireless service to victims of domestic violence, and awarded cash grants of more than $7.9 million to organizations working to prevent domestic violence. HopeLine has properly disposed of nearly 1.6 million no-longer-used wireless phones in an environmentally sound way and kept more than 200 tons of electronic waste and batteries out of landfills.

For additional information on Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program and for Verizon Wireless Communications Store locations, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

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ICE Campaign - "In Case of Emergency"

We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call.

Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name "ICE" ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose.

In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as "ICE."

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference! Let's spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!