Cell Phones To Stop Violence

Verizon Wireless will be collecting used phones for victims of domestic and sexual violence during the Texas Woman’s Hospital 20^th annual Race Against Violence benefiting the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC).The effort is part of Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program, which collected more than one million phones and generated more than $1.7 million in donations in 2007 to support victims of domestic abuse at 330 domestic violence shelters,nationwide.

The long-running HopeLine program collects no-longer-used wireless phones and equipment in any condition from any service provider. The used phones are either refurbished or recycled. With the funds raised from the sale of the refurbished phones, Verizon Wireless donates wireless phones and airtime to victims, and provides funding and other contributions to non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country.

Phones will be collected at the start of the race, which begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.