In an effort to help fight domestic violence in Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Packers and Verizon Wireless are teaming up again this season to collect used phones and monetary donations through the "Protection is the Name of the Game" campaign.
The long-running awareness campaign, "Protection is the Name of the Game," is an extension of Verizon Wireless' award-winning HopeLine program, which is dedicated to helping stop domestic violence.
The campaign includes a season-long phone drive at the Verizon Wireless Gate and in the Atrium, a stadium-wide phone drive at the Dec. 23 Packers-Titans game, financial donations to domestic violence organizations in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula and a public service announcement (PSA) featuring Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings. In 2011 in Wisconsin, more than 13,000 phones were collected and more than $75,000 in cash grants were awarded.
"The Green Bay Packers are proud to once again partner with Verizon in an effort to end domestic violence," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "We know that our fans are some of the most supportive in the league and we hope they'll donate their old, used phones to Verizon's HopeLine program to help provide a lifeline to someone in need."
"Protection is the Name of the Game" will include the following initiatives:
- Season-Long HopeLine Phone Drive: Verizon Wireless and the Packers will be collecting no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries and accessories at Packers home games during the regular season near the Verizon Wireless Gate and in the Atrium. The phones will be refurbished or sold to buy new phones for victims of domestic violence and to support local domestic shelters/organizations. Verizon will also host a special phone drive at every stadium gate during the Dec. 23 Packers-Titans game. Fans unable to attend a game this season can still donate phones at any Verizon Wireless store at any time.
- $10 Match: For each phone collected during the season-long HopeLine drive, Verizon will donate $10 to the Golden House in Green Bay. During the special Dec. 23 phone drive, the House of Hope in Green Bay will receive the donation.
- 30-second PSA: A PSA featuring Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings will be broadcast on TV stations throughout Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. It will be shown during each Packers home game, encouraging fans to donate their old phones to HopeLine.
"Verizon Wireless is committed to supporting victims and organizations that provide shelter and prevention programs. Because domestic violence can be a primary cause of homelessness, and with the ongoing support Greg provides to House of Hope through his foundation, this new relationship was a natural fit," said T.J. Fox, region president, Verizon Wireless. "Nearly one in four American women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Ending the abusive cycle of violence in our communities starts with each of us. Packers fans have provided tremendous support for this program in the past and we know they'll come through again to help us offer help that is desperately needed."
More About the HopeLine Program
Since HopeLine from Verizon's national cell phone recycling and re-use program was launched in 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million wireless phones, awarded more than $10 million in cash grants to domestic violence organizations throughout the country and by the end of this year, will have donated more than 106,000 HopeLine phones with 319 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations. Last year in Wisconsin alone, more than 13,000 phones were donated to the program, totaling more than 1.4 million minutes of service and more than $75,000 in cash grants to help survivors of domestic violence across the state.
