Friday, May 30, 2014

Verizon Community Service Opportunity for Public to Help Domestic Violence Victims


Community



This is a sponsored post

One of the best things about working in social media and writing this blog is being a member of the Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger team. In this capacity over the past two plus years not only have I received all kinds of tech gear -- like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the LG G2 smartphones, Mophie mobile charger and lots more -- to facilitate reviews. I've also learned about all the various ways Verizon gives back to the community, something that's definitely worth sharing with readers.


Me & friends at Verizon party in Chicago, Image by WellConnectedMom.com
Verizon Wireless indeed is deeply ingrained in corporate social responsibility CSR in big ways across the U.S. They're also involved in a multitude of smaller, equally important, badly needed community support activities in local communities. These initiatives range from encouraging and nurturing employees as volunteers to formal pro bono programs to its high profile domestic violence outreach program, known as HopeLine.




Domestic Violence Epidemic

In today's hostile society, Verizon's HopeLine has really made a difference and is worthy of particular mention. Statistically 1 in 4 women, 1 in 7 men and 3 million children are impacted by domestic violence in some shape or form. These victims endure not only mental abuse, but also horrific physical torture and bodily injuries. At the extreme, abuse manifests itself as a threat of death as I heard first-hand from the true life story told at a Verizon event during BlogHer, told by a wife and mother who was shot repeatedly by her husband and luckily survived.


MommyBlogExpert.com
What Verizon is Doing 

Since 2001 Verizon has supported the fight against domestic violence by
  • Collecting 10.8 million mobile phones
  • Contributing $21.4 million in grants to domestic violence organizations
  • Giving 180,000 HopeLine phones to victims and their survivors

Old Verizon Cell Phone, MommyBlogExpert.com

Phones donated to Verizon are refurbished and sold for reuse to raise funds to aid the cause. Rebuilt mobile devices are also contributed to domestic violence organizations and local government and law enforcement agencies serving at-risk individuals. Each phone is pre-loaded with 3000 minutes of phone and text-messaging services and then provided to those who need them as a safe way to call for help.


There's also a green element to their noble effort. According to Verizon's website, "Unsalvageable phones are recycled in an environmentally sound way under a zero landfill policy." 


UHopeline is Verizon's Way of Reaching Out to College Students...




How You Can Help HopeLine

There are several ways the public can donate old cell  phones and accessories including dropping the phone off at your neighborhood Verizon Wireless store, donating at an
organized HopeLine mobile phone drive or mailing it in with a pre-paid postage label.



Image provided by Verizon Wireless
FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I disclose that I am a Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger #VZWBuzz brand ambassador and receive products for review and other perks. However I did not receive any payment and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

2 comments:

  1. Great post! I love their commitment to Hopeline too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Robyn, Thanks so much. Verizon is pretty awesome for creating and maintaining this wonderful community service!

    ReplyDelete