Smartphone Frenzy Creates Gateway for Increased Charity Donations

HopeLine Program Makes Cell Phone Recycling Benefit Victims of Domestic Violence

GREENVILLE, SC – July 17, 2010 – Eager to get your hands on the new DROID X by Motorola, but wondering what to do with your old device?  Verizon Wireless offers an easy solution that you can feel good about.  With HopeLine® cell phone recycling and refurbishing program, you can simply drop off or mail in your old wireless phone and, at the same time, help victims of domestic violence.
 
It’s simple to donate old phones to HopeLine.  Customers can drop their old phones in the HopeLine bin at their local Verizon Wireless Communications Stores.  Those upgrading online can donate by downloading the postage-paid mailing label available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopelinemailinglabel .
 
Since the October 2001 launch of the HopeLine cell phone recycling program, Verizon Wireless has collected more than 7 million phones.  Phones donated to HopeLine that can be refurbished are sold for reuse, and those without value are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero landfill policy.  HopeLine has 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.
 
Verizon Wireless encourages customers who donate phones to HopeLine to erase any personal data on their phones before donation, and if in doubt, leave it to the professionals.  As part of the refurbishing process:
 
·         Verizon Wireless’ recycling vendor scrubs the phone of all personal data prior to distributing it for re-use.
·         The donated phone is hooked up to a special data erasure service, which removes all personal information from devices in compliance with new information privacy laws.
·         Devices are reset to factory settings, so phone numbers, messages, games and images are removed.
 
Customers upgrading to one of Verizon Wireless’ exciting new 3G smartphones, such as DROID X by Motorola or the BlackBerry® Bold 9650 smartphone, should remember that it’s easy to recycle their old cell phones and help a worthy community cause in the process.   
 
For additional information on Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program and store locations, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.