BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and Verizon Wireless is encouraging all Alabamians to donate old phones to the company's HopeLine^® program to support victims and local domestic violence organizations throughout the state. HopeLine from Verizon puts the nation's most reliable wireless network to work in the community by turning no-longer-used wireless phones into support for victims of domestic violence. 

Victims of domestic violence need help and the simple donation of a no-longer-used phone can be that lifeline. Alabama has one of the highest domestic violence rates in the country. According to statistics recently compiled by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, domestic violence constituted 16 percent of overall violent offenses reported in 2013.  Verizon has a longstanding commitment to raising awareness of domestic violence and aiding in its prevention in the state, working with many organizations to help domestic violence victims including Governor Bentley's office and the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

Proceeds from the HopeLine program are used to 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.  Consumers can donate their phones at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores or by mail using the postage-paid mailing label available at www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

"With nearly one in three women in the U.S. having experienced physical violence by an intimate partner, domestic violence is a very serious issue in Alabama and across the country," said Jonathan LeCompte, president – Georgia/Alabama Region, Verizon Wireless. "Verizon has a long history of raising awareness of domestic violence and taking action to aid in its prevention. During DVAM this year, we encourage all Alabamians to dig through their drawers, find no-longer-used phones and donate them to HopeLine."

Since the launch of the HopeLine phone recycling program in 2001, HopeLine from Verizon has collected more than 10.8 million phones, given out more than $21.4 million in cash grants, and distributed more than 180,000 phones for use by domestic violence survivors.

For more information about HopeLine from Verizon and to learn how to organize a HopeLine drive during DVAM, go to www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest and most reliable 4G LTE network.  As the largest wireless company in the U.S., Verizon Wireless serves 104.6 million retail customers, including 98.6 million retail postpaid customers.  Verizon Wireless is wholly owned by Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.  For the latest news and updates about Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at http://www.verizonwireless.com/news or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNews. 

SOURCE Verizon Wireless