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[August 06, 2004]

Public Encouraged to Donate Used Wireless Phones at Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater to Benefit Domestic Violence Victims

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless, Clear Channel Entertainment and Virginians Against Domestic Violence are joining forces to urge music fans to donate their no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories at concerts at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater throughout August. Volunteers will be on hand to accept no-longer-used wireless phones starting with tomorrow's performance featuring The Temptations, The Ojays, The Four Tops and The Whispers.

Verizon Wireless will donate $5 for each wireless phone collected, up to $5,000, to be divided equally between the statewide Virginians Against Domestic Violence, and the Virginia Beach shelter, Samaritan House. In addition, Clear Channel Entertainment, owner of the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater, will give the first 500 fans who donate a wireless phone one pin for free admission to all performances at the Verizon Wireless American Music Festival taking place Friday through Monday of Labor Day weekend 2004. More information about the festival is available at http://www.beacheventsfun.com/.
Volunteers will also collect phones on August 14 for the Kenny Chesney concert, on August 18 for Crosby, Stills and Nash, on August 19 for Norah Jones and on August 22 for John Mayer.
"By doing something as simple as donating a wireless phone, you can truly make a difference for victims of domestic violence," said Patrick Devlin, regional president of Verizon Wireless in Washington, Baltimore and Virginia. "Our main community relations focus is domestic violence prevention, and we are pleased to have this opportunity to collect unused phones for such an important purpose."
"If our involvement in this program helps even one battered woman to find safety, the value of our partnership will be immeasurable," said Matt Rogers, executive director, Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Entertainment / Clear Channel Entertainment. "We know we can count on concert fans to bring the phones they no longer use to the amphitheater to support this cause."
"A program like this helps those who need it most," said Linda Winston, statewide hotline coordinator, Virginians Against Domestic Violence. Grace Orsini, director of education, Samaritan House added, "A donated wireless phone can act as a lifeline for domestic violence victims."
The phone collection effort is part of Verizon Wireless's HopeLine(sm) wireless phone recycling program. HopeLine collects no-longer-used wireless phones to be refurbished, recycled or sold; proceeds are donated to domestic violence advocacy groups or used to purchase wireless phones with airtime for emergency use by victims. Since 2001, Verizon Wireless has collected more than two million wireless phones to benefit domestic violence victims. In addition to benefiting victims of domestic violence, HopeLine provides an environmentally friendly method for recycling used phones. All 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications stores nationwide participate in the HopeLine program.
Verizon Wireless has a longstanding partnership with Virginians Against Domestic Violence (VADV), which includes a 100-phone donation in 2003 and joint recycling drives. VADV provides training, consultation, and technical assistance to allied professionals and operates the toll-free statewide Family Violence & Sexual Assault Virginia Hotline at 1-800-838-8238 (V/TTY). Samaritan House, based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a VADV-member.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 40.4 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone . Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto http://www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.
About Virginians Against Domestic Violence
Virginians Against Domestic Violence (VADV) is a coalition of individuals, agencies and organizations committed to the elimination of domestic violence. VADV operates the Family Violence and Sexual Assault Virginia Hotline, 1-800-838-8238 (V/TTY). As a non-profit membership organization, VADV provides a collective voice for concerned citizens and survivors of family violence throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Members share a vision of healthy relationships that are based on dignity and respect. Find more information on the Web at http://www.vadv.org/.
About Samaritan House/Safe Harbor
Located in Virginia Beach, Va., Samaritan House is a nonprofit organization dedicated to freedom from domestic abuse and to personal empowerment of adults and their children. The organization provides a wide range of services for those who have been victimized through domestic violence. These services range from food to clothing and shelter to education and legal services.
Verizon Wireless


CONTACT: Dee Larion of Clear Channel Entertainment, +1-757-368-3000;Tracey Primrose, +1-202-966-8779 or John Johnson, +1-240-568-1429,John.H.Johnson@VerizonWireless.com, both of Verizon Wireless


Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/http://www.vadv.org/http://www.beacheventsfun.com
/http://www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless

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