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Published on August 28th, 2015 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

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Live Session: Verizon Foundation President Rose Stuckey Kirk on Domestic Violence initiative ‘HopeLine’

Verizon Foundation President Rose KirkVerizon Foundation President Rose Stuckey Kirk talks with The Hype Magazine Editor-in-Chief on the company’s aggressive campaigns to support domestic violence awareness and prevention.

Globally, domestic violence is a cancer in society. While we all wish we could snap our fingers and eradicate physical abuse, the fact is, it’s ingrained in our society(s) and the victims need real help…sometimes quickly. Victims, overwhelmed by feelings of being alone, helpless, with nowhere to turn or with no way to reach out, a simple thing like a mobile phone could make the difference.

For over 15 years, Verizon has joined the national community not as a business, but as people who know people, work with people, suffering through violent situations in their personal lives. With over

100,000 employees, the company’s personnel roster is a perfect case study on the impact of domestic violence.

Verizon Foundation President, Rose Stuckey Kirk, spoke with me about how the company has stepped into the community not as a brand, but as people supporting people. We talked about a very aggressive domestic violence initiative Verizon created entitled “HopeLine.” Verizon donates wireless phones through the HopeLine program to domestic violence shelters and non-profit organizations for use by victims and survivors.

Verizon is promoting the program using a number of PSAs and activations like the one earlier this year during Essence Festival in New Orleans which exposed their message to more than 60,000 attendees. Of course they have also celebs attached!

From the Verizon HopeLine Fact Sheet:

About HopeLine 

Verizon has a longstanding commitment to domestic violence awareness and prevention, which has been a main philanthropic focus since 2001 through the HopeLine® from Verizon program. HopeLine collects no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries, chargers and turns them into support for domestic violence awareness and prevention organizations. These phones are refurbished and recycled in an environmentally safe way with proceeds going towards the financial support of domestic violence awareness and prevention initiatives.

Verizon is asking people across the nation to take action against domestic violence by… 

  • Drop off a phone – visit any Verizon store to donate no-longer-used wireless phones, batteries, chargers and accessories from any service provider to support domestic violence prevention and awareness organizations.
  • Visit verizon.com/about/hopeline to learn more.

…help HopeLine reach 1 million phone donations by the end of 2015.

What is a HopeLine Phone

Verizon donates wireless phones through the HopeLine program to domestic violence shelters and non-profit organizations for use by victims and survivors. These phones are equipped with 3,000 anytime minutes of airtime and texting capabilities. They come with Verizon Wireless Nationwide Coverage, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, 3-Way Calling, Caller ID, Basic Voice Mail and texting. HopeLine phones are available to survivors affiliated with participating domestic violence agencies.

To date, the HopeLine program has: 

  • Collected more than 681,000 phones in 2014 and more than 11.4 million since 2001.
  • Donated more than 190,000 phones since 2001.
  • Awarded more than $29 million in cash grants to domestic violence organizations since 2001.

Listen in to our great conversation!


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About the Author

Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.


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