Verizon, INDYCAR, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Launch Indiana HopeLine Drive

INDIANAPOLIS, May 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon, INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today announced joint participation in a HopeLine drive throughout May to raise critical funds and awareness of domestic violence prevention. The drive invites racing fans to bring their no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories from any wireless carrier to donation sites throughout Indiana. A $50,000 HopeLine grant was presented to the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) due to a statewide shortfall in its Emergency Housing and Transportation Survivor Fund. The Indiana drive is also part of a national goal from HopeLine to collect 1 million phone donations in 2015. For a list of donation sites across Indiana, including Verizon Wireless stores, visit: http://bit.ly/1EO6cz9

During the month of May, race fans can find HopeLine volunteers and boxes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at entrance gates 1, 3, 9 and 10-A at the following events:

• Angie's List Grand Prix of Indianapolis, Saturday, May 9
• Indianapolis 500 Qualifications, Saturday, May 16
• Old National Armed Forces Pole Day, Sunday, May 17
• Coors Light Carb Day, Friday, May 22
• Indianapolis 500, Sunday, May 24

Senior officials joined in support of the drive, including:

• Team Penske INDYCAR driver Helio Castroneves: "Domestic violence impacts our families and friends, our workplaces, and our communities. I'm encouraging racing fans to clean out their drawers and donate their old phones and accessories. Together, we can make sure we're doing our part in preventing domestic violence."
• Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles: "INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are grateful for the opportunity to join with Verizon to participate in the HopeLine drive during the month of May. HopeLine is a vitally important cause and we're thrilled to be able to unite with our partners and the local community to be proactive in assisting these key efforts to prevent domestic violence. We encourage all of our fans who are planning to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May to participate in this great program."
• Indiana First Lady Karen Pence: "I applaud all those participating in this HopeLine phone drive in support of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The First Lady's Office had a very successful experience working with HopeLine last October collecting phones from state employees. Together, we can all do our part to bring an end to domestic violence."
• ICADV Executive Director Laura Berry: "Survivors rely on services from scores of programs and shelters in Indiana that do not have funds for transportation and housing. Thanks to this generous grant, ICADV will fill that unmet need and provide emergency funds to those who need it most."
• Verizon Region President Lauren Love-Wright: "We are excited to join INDYCAR, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and countless community partners to engage with racing fans to help prevent domestic violence. Local shelters turned away nearly 1,700 people for services due to budget shortfalls, and together we're making sure we not only shine a light on the tragedy of domestic violence, but we're offering a $50,000 grant to aid urgent efforts. Hoosiers truly can make a difference by donating those old phones and accessories."

According to ICADV, the average cost for domestic violence shelter is about $83 a night in a rural area of Indiana and about $75 a night in an urban area. The average shelter stay runs 21 to 56 days for those who flee from a dangerous situation. Transportation costs to accommodate families in crisis range from $1,682 to $7,300 a year per organization.

The HopeLine grant will increase the Emergency Housing and Transportation Survivor Fund by nearly 15 times its average annual income since it was seeded in 2005 with a start-up donation from the Indiana State Medical Association. The $50,000 grant is significant because the fund has averaged income of only $3,500 a year during the past nine years — and received no income for critical survivor services for at least four years that it's been in existence. This is also the first time in a decade that a major grant has been awarded for support.

Through HopeLine, the public can help prevent domestic violence by donating no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories in any condition from any carrier and tweet photos of their donations with the hashtag — #VZHopeLineIN. Wireless phones given to HopeLine are refurbished and recycled in an environmentally sound way, generating proceeds going towards financial support of domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. Verizon also donates phones through HopeLine to local domestic violence agencies or law enforcement agencies for use by domestic violence survivors, which are basic phones complete with talk and text time.

The Indiana drive with community partners for public drives and employee collections will go from Thursday, May 7, to Sunday, June 7.

Media Contacts:
Mike Kitchel, INDYCAR, [email protected]
Trevor Thomas, Verizon Wireless, trevor.thomas@verizonwireless,com, 248-914-3680
Kyle Niederpruem, For Verizon Wireless, [email protected], 317-509-7334

For Verizon Wireless Updates on Twitter
For the latest news about Verizon Wireless in Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky, follow @TrevorThomas45. For the latest on products, corporate initiatives and perspectives, follow @VZWnews on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWnews. For more news and stories specific to the Verizon Wireless Midwest Area, visit and subscribe to our blog: http://vzwmidwestarea.com.

About HopeLine from Verizon
HopeLine offers the public an opportunity to help prevent domestic violence by donating no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories in any condition from any carrier. Wireless phones given to HopeLine are refurbished and recycled in an environmentally sound way, generating proceeds going toward financial support of domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. Verizon also donates phones through HopeLine — complete with service — to local domestic violence agencies or law enforcement agencies for use by domestic violence survivors.

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 108.6 million retail customers, including 102.6 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

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