Bell Atlantic Mobile Kicks Off YWCA Week Without Violence

Bell Atlantic Mobile Kicks Off YWCA Week Without Violence

Company Teams With Motorola to Donate Phones in Honor of
Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 12, 1999

WILMINGTON, DE - - Bell Atlantic Mobile, this year's sponsor for the
YWCA Week Without Violence launch press event, will present 15
phones donated by Motorola as part of its "Wireless at Work"
program. The phones will be provided to participants in YWCA's Helping
Hearts Program so domestic violence victims may seek emergency
assistance at the push of a button. The event will feature two newly
created playground wall murals developed by children and the YWCA's
artist-in-residence that depict a world without violence.

In addition, Bell Atlantic Mobile is donating wireless phones with free
airtime to YWCA counselors to help them communicate with their main
office while they're assisting clients off-site, including domestic violence
victims and their children.

"Since our business is all about helping people communicate
anytime, anywhere,
we hope that these 'high-tech' safety tools will help people stay safe and
connected," said John Stratton, regional president for Bell Atlantic
Mobile.

Earlier in the week, Bell Atlantic Mobile joined with U.S. Sen. Joseph R.
Biden, Jr. to launch a state-wide "Wireless at Work" Phone
Recycling Program to benefit victims of domestic violence. The drive,
which runs through November 15, allows wireless phone users throughout
Delaware to donate their unused older model cellular phones at drop-off
sites. Bell Atlantic Mobile will reprogram these phones to dial 9-1-1 only,
before they are distributed to victims of domestic violence. Phones are
being collected at Sen. Biden's offices in Wilmington, Dover and
Georgetown.

Bell Atlantic Mobile has been a corporate leader in the fight against
domestic violence. Since 1995, the company's "Wireless at
Work" program has provided more than 8,000 wireless phones to
programs, arming thousands of victims with emergency communications
tools. And this month, the company teamed with Motorola to donate 2,500
phones throughout its service area, including today's donation.

Editor's Note: Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest
wireless network in the East and systems in the Southwest, covering
180,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets devoted
exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging. Based in Bedminster, NJ,
Bell Atlantic Mobile has 6.6 million customers and 8,000 employees from
Maine to George and in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas.
Through its "Wireless at Work..." community service
program, the company uses its technology to help individuals and
communities improve security and emergency communications. Bell
Atlantic Mobile's parent, Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE:BEL) is one of
the world's largest wireless communications companies, with domestic
operations in 25 states and international investments in Mexico, Europe
and the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile, visit:
www.bam.com; on global operations, visit:
www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.