southfield, Mich.—Last year, Michiganders donated nearly 28,000 no-longer-used wireless phones to Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine^® program, helping to support and put resources into the hands of those affected by domestic violence in Michigan.

HopeLine from Verizon puts the nation’s most reliable wireless network to work in the community by collecting no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider.  Verizon Wireless and the HopeLine program 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.   Phones that cannot be refurbished are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero-landfill policy. 

“We are grateful to those Michiganders who donated their no-longer used phones to HopeLine in 2010,” said John Granby, president–Michigan/Indiana/Kentucky Region for Verizon Wireless. “Your actions are making a difference in the community and helping to support the families of Michigan affected by domestic violence.  Thank you.” 

Support for Michigan

The generosity of consumers and businesses who donated in Michigan enabled Verizon Wireless to award $108,700 in cash grants to local domestic violence agencies.  These agencies included CARE House of Oakland County in Pontiac, Turning Point in Mount Clemens, Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment and Looking For My Sister, both in Detroit, Safe Haven Ministries in Grand Rapids, Center For Women In Transition in Holland, National Cherry Festival Foundation in Traverse City, Shelter, Inc. in Alpena, Women's Resource Center in Petoskey and Gaylord, Women's Resource Center - Grand Traverse Area in Traverse City, Aware Inc. in Jackson, S.A.F.E. Place in Battle Creek, YWCA of Greater Flint, End Violent Encounters in Lansing and LACASA in Howell.

Verizon Wireless’ National Commitment

Throughout 2010, HopeLine collected more than 1.1 million phones and awarded more than $2.1 million grants to nearly 450 domestic violence prevention and awareness programs.   Moreover, through HopeLine, Verizon Wireless provided 25,392 phones with a total of 75 million free minutes of service to shelters and agencies nationwide for use by clients, including 3 million minutes to organizations in Michigan.

Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones; awarded more than $10 million in cash grants to prevention and awareness programs nationwide; and donated more than 106,000 HopeLine phones with 319 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations.