Published 11-07-00
Submitted by Verizon Communications
Verizon Wireless, formerly Bell Atlantic Mobile, has donated 10 additional wireless phones to Laurens County SAFE Home, a shelter for domestic violence victims. Earlier this year, the shelter received five phones from the company.
"Victims of domestic violence are vulnerable to attacks wherever they go. Because landline phones are not always readily available, we are proud to donate wireless phones that will provide victims a sense of security," said Jerry Fountain, Verizon Wireless' regional president - Carolinas.
Since 1995, the company's "Wireless at Work" community service program has donated more than 450 phones and airtime and 600 HopeLineÃ’ voice mail boxes in the Carolinas Region. These phones and voice mail boxes aid victims of domestic violence and are used by homeless shelters and neighborhood watch programs.
Laurens County SAFE Home will administer the program and train its residents to use the wireless phones.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with 26.3 million wireless voice and data customers and 3.5 million paging customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp - now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 32,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company in its Media Center on the Web at: http://www.verizonwireless.com/mediacenter/index.shtml