Lt. Gov. Simon Kicks Off Domestic Violence Awareness Month Cell Phone Drive

Urges Illinoisans to donate phones during October

BELLEVILLE, IL – Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon was joined by domestic violence workers to launch her office’s fourth annual cell phone drive throughout October aimed at raising awareness of domestic violence and supporting the efforts of local shelters.

“This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I am proud to be supporting the work of the Violence Prevention Center, and Connections for Abused Women and their Children,” Simon said. “Organizations like these help survivors to protect their families and themselves as they get back on their feet after abusive relationships. I hope this cell phone drive will encourage Illinoisans to give, but also to educate themselves on domestic violence.”

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In observance, Simon’s office is conducting its fourth annual cell phone drive with HopeLine from Verizon, which supports domestic violence survivors and service organizations like the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois and Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC).

“All of us at Verizon understand the importance of working with community leaders in their efforts to eradicate domestic violence,” says Brian Pascoe, Verizon Wireless. “Verizon Wireless, through the HopeLine program, is committed to supporting survivors of domestic violence and the organizations that provide shelter and prevention programs. We need to work together to end domestic violence, and through this phone drive we hope to spread the message across the state of Illinois.”

Based in Belleville, the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois provides shelter and other services to domestic violence survivors in St. Clair, Monroe and Randolph Counties. Executive Director Darlene Jones said the donation from the cell phone drive will be used to support the services provided by the Center’s legal advocacy program.

“The Violence Prevention Center’s mission is to eliminate domestic violence, not only in the lives of individuals, but in society as a whole,” Jones said. “This would not even be possible without the support of our leaders, such as Lt. Governor Simon. She understands the need to support victims to help them and their children live free of violence.”

Half of the proceeds from the drive will also go toward Connections for Abused Women and Children. Based in Chicago, the group provides domestic violence relief services to families in need. CAWC Executive Director Cordelia Ryan said the cell phone drive is important and timely.

“The donation from the drive enables us to provide safe shelter for women and children most in need as well as counseling, legal advocacy and hospital-based crisis intervention.  Recent media coverage of domestic violence has increased our demand. We are grateful to the Lt. Governor and Verizon for their leadership in raising awareness and aiding survivors, and we encourage everyone to donate their used cell phones.”

Collected cell phones will go to Verizon’s HopeLine program to be refurbished and resold. Verizon will donate $10 per phone, up to a maximum of $10,000, with the Violence Prevention Center and CAWC each receiving half. The drive will run from Oct. 1-24.

Those wishing to donate can drop no-longer-used cell phones at Lt. Governor’s Office locations in Carbondale, Springfield and Chicago. For a full list of addresses, visit http://www2.illinois.gov/ltgov/Pages/OfficeOverview.aspx.

For more information about the HopeLine Cell Phone drive, visit the HopeLine from Verizon website.