PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and the Philadelphia Eagles will collect no-longer-used wireless phones to benefit victims of domestic violence at this Sunday's Eagles game vs. the New York Giants. Through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine(R) program, the phones will be refurbished and recycled or sold. Proceeds will be used to purchase wireless phones for use by domestic violence victims in emergency or life-threatening situations. The HopeLine Program also provides an environmentally safe method for recycling used cell phones. Each year, 130 million wireless phones are thrown away, creating 65,000 tons of trash.

Eagles fans can bring their wireless phones to the team's home opener and deposit them in the HopeLine collection bins at the entrance of Lincoln Financial Field. Phones can be also be dropped off at the club and suite gate entrances, and employee check-in and press gates. Phones will be collected until the 1 p.m. kickoff. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. This is the fifth consecutive year the Eagles and Verizon Wireless have teamed up to fight domestic violence in our communities.

"We know we can count on our fans to bring their phones to the game and help provide a lifeline of safety and hope for victims of domestic abuse," said Tammy Reid, wife of Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid. Reid is an advocate for the fight against domestic violence. "If a fan will not be attending the game, they can donate phones at any Verizon Wireless store across the region."

"These donations of wireless phones have made a tremendous difference for victims of domestic violence," said Christine Baron, president of Verizon Wireless' Philadelphia Tri-State Region. "The Philadelphia Eagles and the fans have been committed to this cause every year and we are proud of this partnership."

Since the 2003 season, Verizon Wireless has been the official wireless provider for the Philadelphia Eagles, participating in a number of marketing and community outreach programs, including:

-- Sponsorship of the Philadelphia Eagles Mobile iNzone, which lets Verizon Wireless customers sign up to receive exclusive Eagles news, text message updates, video clips, ringtones and wallpaper sent to their wireless phones, directly from the team -- Free football skills development clinics led by Eagles players for Philadelphia-area youth -- Eagles participation in Verizon Wireless' annual "Packs for Pride" project, an initiative coordinated by local Verizon Wireless employees in the company's Philadelphia Region that provides backpacks filled with clothing, toys and other items to children living in domestic violence shelters and safe houses -- Eagles home game ticket donations to families throughout the region living in domestic violence shelters and safe houses

Since 2001, consumers have donated nearly three million phones to HopeLine with more than 600,000 donated phones being recycled. Donations are accepted at all Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in the Philadelphia Tri-State Region and at company retail locations across the country. All wireless phone models, batteries and chargers from any carrier are accepted.

For store locations and additional information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline. For more information on the 2006 Philadelphia Eagles, visit the Eagles official Web site at http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 54.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://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 http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

CONTACT: Bonnie Grant of Philadelphia Eagles, +1-215-320-5827, or cell,
+1-215-219-4784, or bgrant@eagles.nfl.com; or Sheldon Jones of Verizon
Wireless, +1-215-638-5668, or cell, +1-215-219-8890, or
sheldon.jones@verizonwireless.com

Web site: http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/
http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline
http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia