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Through the "Donate a Phone" campaign, used wireless phones are being collected and donated to domestic violence victims to give them away to get help quickly when they need it. The Donate a Phone campaign is promoted through television and radio public service announcements featuring actress Susan Sarandon. The program's goal is to collect one million used wireless phones from the public and is a partnership between the Wireless Foundation and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, with funding from Motorola. Powerful WeaponIn the commercials, Sarandon says "Every day, 5,000 women become victims of domestic violence. And their most powerful weapon against this atrocity may be sitting right in your own home -- waiting to make a difference.""The main goal of the PSA is to get people thinking about all the unused phones they have lying around that can be lifelines in the hands of those who need to protect themselves from domestic violence," said Rita Smith, executive director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in a news release. The phones collected or either donated to victims of domestic violence, or refurbished and sold, with proceeds going to benefit domestic violence programs and organizations, including the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Call to ProtectSponsored by Motorola, "Donate a Phone" is part of CALL to PROTECT, a national program that provides domestic violence victims with phones preprogrammed with emergency numbers so that they can access help at the touch of a button.Since CALL to PROTECT began, Motorola has donated 16,000 wireless phones to the program, and free air time has been provided by wireless service providers across the United States who are members of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence was organized in 1978 by a group of over 100 battered women's advocates. Based in Colorado, NCADV serves as a national information and referral center for the general public, the media, battered women and their children, and other agencies and organizations involved with issues related to domestic abuse. To find a location where used phones can be donated, visit the donateaphone.com web site. Previous Features
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