Five Million Phones Collected By Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine Program

Phones Turned Into Support for Domestic Violence Agencies and Survivors

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Every no-longer-used wireless phone that consumers donate to Verizon Wireless' HopeLine® national phone recycling and reuse program helps a victim of domestic violence. Verizon Wireless collected its first used wireless phone through HopeLine in 2001, and the company said today it has now passed the 5 million phones collected mark.

“The 5 million phones we have collected add up to millions of minutes of freedom for domestic violence victims,” said Lowell McAdam, president and CEO of Verizon Wireless. “We know there are many options for disposing of wireless phones, and we appreciate those customers who have chosen to support victims of domestic violence through HopeLine. These phones really do make a difference.”

One Million Phones Collected In Nine Months
Last October, Verizon Wireless announced it had collected 4 million phones through HopeLine. Now, in just nine months, HopeLine has collected an additional 1 million phones to pass the 5 million phone plateau. Five million is the number of people who live in the state of Minnesota or one phone for every person in Metro Atlanta. It also represents the distance in miles between Los Angeles and New York – multiplied 922 times.

180 Million Minutes of Service Donated
The 5 million phones collected by HopeLine were either refurbished for reuse with the proceeds benefitting domestic violence victims or were recycled in an environmentally sound way. HopeLine has provided wireless phones with the equivalent of 180 million minutes of service and cash grants totaling more than $5 million to local shelters and non-profit organizations that focus on domestic violence prevention and awareness.

About HopeLine
HopeLine puts the nation’s most reliable wireless network to work in communities by turning unused wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence. Wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider can be donated to HopeLine at any Verizon Wireless Communication Store across the country. For more information on Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 67.2 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.