Verizon’s HopeLine – recycle any cellphone to help victims of domestic violence
If you’re wondering what to do with cellphones you no longer use, don’t just throw them away, even if they go to a recycler. Instead, consider giving them to Verizon Wireless:
“[Verizon's] HopeLine accepts no-longer-used wireless phones and equipment in any condition from any service provider. The phones are either refurbished or recycled in an environmentally sound way. Proceeds are used to provide wireless phones with free airtime to survivors and to contribute grants to further the efforts of non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country.”
Per Verizon Wireless:
HopeLine: 2009 in Review
Verizon Wireless, a known corporate leader in domestic violence prevention, works to end domestic violence and raise awareness of the issue through the company’s HopeLine® program. Marking its 14th year in 2009, HopeLine collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless service provider, and then refurbishes the phones or recycles them in an environmentally sound way. Proceeds from the HopeLine program benefit victims of domestic violence and non-profit advocacy agencies, providing essential communication tools of wireless phones and wireless services, and financial grants.
By The Numbers
- Collected nearly 1.1 million phones in 2009. Since 2001, HopeLine has collected nearly 6.7 million phones through its stores and other points across the country.
- Donated nearly $1.6 million in cash grants to about 600 different domestic violence prevention and awareness programs nationwide.
- HopeLine has now distributed more than 90,000 HopeLine phones with the equivalent of more than 300 million minutes of free wireless service for use by victims, survivors and organizations.
- Recycled more than 180,000 phones, keeping them out of landfills. HopeLine has now properly disposed of more than 1.6 million phones in an environmentally sound way, and refurbished the remaining units, funding more than $7.9 million in cash grants for domestic violence organizations nationwide.
- Presented four HopeLine Law Enforcement Partnership Awards, the most in any year since the award was introduced in 2005. HopeLine has now presented 10 HopeLine Partnership Awards to law enforcement agencies or individuals that demonstrated extraordinary commitment to and focus on preventing domestic violence and raising awareness in their communities.
A Year of Growth and New Initiatives
In addition to ongoing phone collection and recycling efforts, the HopeLine program expanded its reach in 2009 in the legal, law enforcement, Hispanic, and college communities through several initiatives:
- Funded the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence’s first-ever National Domestic Violence Pro Bono Directory, a comprehensive national database of programs providing pro bono legal services to victims of domestic violence.
- Joined with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) for its third annual HopeLine phone collection drive at chapter locations nationwide.
- Sponsored Casa de Esperanza’s Hope Campaign to challenge people across the country to take action in their daily lives to create a world free from domestic violence.
- Expanded its UHopeLine program to several New York Metro colleges and universities to increase awareness of dating violence and encourage college students to help the environment by recycling no-longer-used wireless devices.
HopeLine Phone Donation Is Easier Than Ever
HopeLine already made phone donation easy, however, simplifying the process even more was a key goal for HopeLine in 2009. Throughout the year, additional materials were added to the Web site to put information and resources at customers’ fingertips including:
- Mailing Label – a postage paid mailing label is now available, along with instructions on how to mail in phone donations: http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/Shipping.html
- Phone Drive Tips & Suggestions – an online checklist for anyone interested in hosting a HopeLine phone collection: http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/Phone_Drive_Tips.html
- Success Stories – images and stories from consumers and businesses that have hosted successful phone drives: http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/PhoneDrives.html
- HopeLine Press Kit – an overview of the HopeLine program, available in both English and Spanish
English: http://news.vzw.com/pdf/HopeLine_Press_Kit.pdf
Spanish: http://news.vzw.com/pdf/HopeLine_Press_Kit_Spanish.pdf
HopeLine: The Green Story
Keeping old cell phones out of landfills can not only help domestic violence victims, it can also help the environment, and this is just one green initiative Verizon Wireless has in place. In 2009, a Green Initiatives page was added to the Verizon Wireless Web site, helping site visitors learn more about what Verizon Wireless is doing and find ways they can help protect the Earth. Green Initiatives are available at: http://aboutus.vzw.com/Green_Initiative/overview.html
Continuing the Momentum in 2010
As HopeLine enters its 15th year, Verizon Wireless remains more committed than ever to making a difference for domestic violence victims and the environment. Check www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline throughout 2010 to find the latest information about HopeLine’s ongoing efforts.
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