Working in concert with the Green Bay Packers, Verizon Wireless collected over 410 used wireless phones from fans at the October 11 Monday night game against the Tennessee Titans.
The phones were collected as part of Verizon's Hopeline program, which is the company's program to promote domestic violence awareness and prevention.
The 2004 collection was the third year in which Verizon has taken up a collection at Lambeau Field, and according to Carolyn Schaumberger of Verizon Wireless, last week's was the largest tally to date.
Other initiatives run by the Hopeline program include public service announcements, such as the one featuring Packers offensive lineman Marco Rivera and his wife, Michelle, which is shown on the Lambeau Field scoreboard at each home game.
The key to the program, though, is the phone recycling initiative, according to Schaumberger.
"We collect year-round at all of our 1,200 retail locations around the country no longer used wireless phones - any make, any model, any carrier," she said. "We collect those phones, then they are refurbished, recycled and resold with the proceeds going then to benefit domestic violence organizations. We either purchase new wireless handsets and provide local airtime service for these organizations to give to their clients or we provide grants to these domestic violence organizations."
Craig Benzel, Packers' Director of Marketing and Corporate Sales, worked extensively with Verizon Wireless to bring the phone collection back to Lambeau Field. He was extremely pleased with the outcome of the event.
"We were delighted to work with Verizon Wireless to promote the Hopeline program," Benzel said. "By donating a record number of used phones for domestic violence victims, Packers fans continue to show a great compassion and willingness to support those in need."
Verizon Wireless and the Packers are very appreciative of the fans who have contributed to the Hopeline program throughout the years.
"We would like to thank Packer fans for their continued generosity to this program," Schaumberger said.
