Simon kicks off cell phone drive to benefit domestic violence survivors;
Verizon-sponsored drive to benefit domestic violence shelters
CHICAGO – Lt. Governor Sheila Simon Tuesday will launch her office's annual cell phone drive, a partnership with HopeLine by Verizon Wireless that benefits survivors of domestic violence. Simon will be joined by representatives of the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois, Verizon Wireless and elected officials in Belleville.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Office of the Lt. Governor will partner with HopeLine from Verizon during October to conduct a Domestic Violence Awareness Month cell phone drive. Collected cell phones will go to Verizon's HopeLine Cell Phone program to be refurbished and resold. After the drive, which will run from Oct. 1-24, Verizon will issue up to $5,000 each to the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois and Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) in Chicago.
Based in Belleville, the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois provides shelter and other services to domestic violence survivors in the East St. Louis area. CAWC aids domestic violence survivors in the Chicago area and is a member of the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Metropolitan Chicago Battered Women's Network.
For more information about the HopeLine Cell Phone drive, visit http://www.verizonwireless.
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