Bell Atlantic Mobile Donates 600 Wireless Phones for Victims

Bell Atlantic Mobile Donates 600 Wireless Phones for Victims

Company Responds To Governor's Declaration of Domestic Violence
Awareness Year

March 5, 1998

president Bob Stott announced a statewide initiative to provide 600
wireless phones to high-risk victims of domestic violence, enabling
them to instantly dial 9-1-1 and receive emergency police or medical
assistance 24 hours a day.

"For women who fear for their lives and the lives of their children,
dialing 9-1-1 is often times their only link to safety. These phones
put safety in the palm of their hands," said Cellucci. "We are
dedicated to using every resource at our disposal to fight the war
against domestic violence -- and today we've taken another step toward
protecting women from the blows of abusive men."

Responding to Cellucci's challenge for private companies to join his
effort to combat domestic violence, Bell Atlantic Mobile has donated
600 wireless phones to be distributed to battered women across the
Commonwealth through local police departments, domestic violence
shelters, and advocacy groups. The phones will provide victims of
domestic violence with security and protection they need to safely
leave an abusive relationship.

"The telecommunications industry is advancing so rapidly that many of
us take for granted the ease with which we communicate, anytime,
anywhere," said Bob Stott, Bell Atlantic Mobile regional president.
"But there are many individuals, particularly victims of domestic
violence, whose circumstances do not allow them take communication
and, even more importantly, their safety for granted. This program
provides instant emergency communication to those domestic violence
victims."

Each of the state's 32 battered women's service groups will receive
five wireless phones and five battery charges with instructions on how
to operate the phones. The remaining 440 phones will be issued to
local police departments for distribution to battered women who live
day-by-day with the threat of attack from abusive boyfriends or
husbands. The wireless phones are pre-programmed to send outbound
9-1-1 calls only.

"Few of us can imagine what it is like to live each moment in fear as
these women and children do," said Joyce Williams-Mitchell, executive
director of the Coalition. "Courage to break away and stay away from
violent relationships is a process. These phones make it possible to
stay in the process."

In 1996, the Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Women's Service
Groups received approximately 75,000 calls for assistance from
victims. They also provided shelter to more than 3,000 women and
their children.

Last October, Cellucci, who chairs the Governor's Commission on
Domestic Violence declared 1998 the Year of Domestic Violence
Awareness in Massachusetts and has been unwavering in his crusade for
zero tolerance for domestic violence.

Bell Atlantic Mobile's donation is part of the company's umbrella
community relations program, "Wireless at Work...", which provides the
communities the company serves with the means to improve safety,
security and emergency communications through wireless equipment and
service. Last October, the company made a state-wide donation of
Hopeline(r), a confidential voice mail system, to transition homes and
domestic violence shelters in Massachusetts.

Bell Atlantic Mobile Donates 600 Wireless Phones for Victims

Company Responds To Governor's Declaration of Domestic Violence
Awareness Year

March 5, 1998

president Bob Stott announced a statewide initiative to provide 600
wireless phones to high-risk victims of domestic violence, enabling
them to instantly dial 9-1-1 and receive emergency police or medical
assistance 24 hours a day.

"For women who fear for their lives and the lives of their children,
dialing 9-1-1 is often times their only link to safety. These phones
put safety in the palm of their hands," said Cellucci. "We are
dedicated to using every resource at our disposal to fight the war
against domestic violence -- and today we've taken another step toward
protecting women from the blows of abusive men."

Responding to Cellucci's challenge for private companies to join his
effort to combat domestic violence, Bell Atlantic Mobile has donated
600 wireless phones to be distributed to battered women across the
Commonwealth through local police departments, domestic violence
shelters, and advocacy groups. The phones will provide victims of
domestic violence with security and protection they need to safely
leave an abusive relationship.

"The telecommunications industry is advancing so rapidly that many of
us take for granted the ease with which we communicate, anytime,
anywhere," said Bob Stott, Bell Atlantic Mobile regional president.
"But there are many individuals, particularly victims of domestic
violence, whose circumstances do not allow them take communication
and, even more importantly, their safety for granted. This program
provides instant emergency communication to those domestic violence
victims."

Each of the state's 32 battered women's service groups will receive
five wireless phones and five battery charges with instructions on how
to operate the phones. The remaining 440 phones will be issued to
local police departments for distribution to battered women who live
day-by-day with the threat of attack from abusive boyfriends or
husbands. The wireless phones are pre-programmed to send outbound
9-1-1 calls only.

"Few of us can imagine what it is like to live each moment in fear as
these women and children do," said Joyce Williams-Mitchell, executive
director of the Coalition. "Courage to break away and stay away from
violent relationships is a process. These phones make it possible to
stay in the process."

In 1996, the Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Women's Service
Groups received approximately 75,000 calls for assistance from
victims. They also provided shelter to more than 3,000 women and
their children.

Last October, Cellucci, who chairs the Governor's Commission on
Domestic Violence declared 1998 the Year of Domestic Violence
Awareness in Massachusetts and has been unwavering in his crusade for
zero tolerance for domestic violence.

Bell Atlantic Mobile's donation is part of the company's umbrella
community relations program, "Wireless at Work...", which provides the
communities the company serves with the means to improve safety,
security and emergency communications through wireless equipment and
service. Last October, the company made a state-wide donation of
Hopeline(r), a confidential voice mail system, to transition homes and
domestic violence shelters in Massachusetts.