Verizon, an American cell phone giant valued at $236 billion (with a “b”) has decided to end its HopeLine program that provided free government cell phones for survivors of domestic abuse.
Apparently the cost of a few thousand cell phones is more than the $236 billion cell phone service provider can fit into its annual budget. So it will cold-hearted end as of December 31, 2018.
Here’s how WTOL TV explains the sad situation:
Verizon Wireless says one of the main reasons they are ending the HopeLine program is because they no longer receive recycled cell phones.
Instead customers bring in their cell phones to trade in for newer ones.
The Cocoon in Bowling Green is one of the shelters currently receives cell phones from Verizon. The phones have pre-loaded minutes on them and are completely free.
The program is set to end in December leaving shelter organizers on the line.
“One of the things we know about domestic violence is that it comes with lots of control on the part of the abuser. So one of the things that’s easy for the abuser to control is phone service,” said Director Kathy Mull.
The Cocoon estimates they have received between 100 to 150 phones from Verizon through this program. They said it is an essential part of helping survivors feel safe.
Say what, Verizon?
On one hand you say you no longer receive recycle cell phones. On the other hand you say customers trade their cell phones for new ones? Does that mean you end up with thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of used phones? Couldn’t a $236 billion company afford to refurbish those phones and continue the HopeLine program?
Verizon clearly realizes that heartless decision this could easily turn into a public relations nightmare, so they quickly issued a press release reassuring everyone that they outstanding corporate citizens and that despite evidence to the contrary, they care. They really care:
In the United States, one in every four women and one in every seven men have experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner, and each year more than 15 million children witness violence in their homes.
Dealing with the consequences of domestic violence in our society is an enormous challenge. At Verizon, we’re working to be part of the solution:
- We support Camp Hope, a national youth program focused on ending the cycle of generational violence.
- We support the #Hope feature, which allows any Verizon Wireless customer to connect to the National Domestic Violence Hotline simply by dialing #Hope on their mobile phone.
- We provide grants to leading nonprofit organizations, focusing on organizations that support victims and survivors of domestic violence and those that strive to prevent it.
Conspicuously missing from that list of good deeds is HopeLine, the program that provided domestic abuse survivors with free cell phones.
In our original story about HopeLine, posted back on May 27, 2015, we praised Verizon because they seemed to understand how much survivors of domestic abuse needed the HelpLine program.
“Access to a wireless phone and service, along with a voice mailbox can help victims of domestic violence rebuild their lives, by giving them the means to communicate with family, friends, agency and shelter support staff and current or prospective employers.”
If Verizon’s words were true then, they are just as true today. Hundreds of thousands of victims of domestic violence needed the program then and just as many need the program now.
How about if Verizon continues to fund the HopeLine program by paying Hans Vestberg, its newly-appointed CEO a few million dollars less and applying those dollars to the HopeLine program?
variety.com explains what we mean:
With his appointment as Verizon CEO, Vestberg’s base salary will increase to $1.5 million (up from $807,497 in 2017), according to a regulatory filing. The exec’s target short-term incentive opportunity will increase from 150% to 250% of base salary, and his target long-term incentive opportunity will increase from 600% to 800% of base salary. Vestberg also will get a one-time stock grant worth about $10 million as of Aug. 1, 2018, when the CEO switch takes effect.
In the words of former Beatle George Harrison, “All things must pass.” But in this case the HopeLine program is passing only because Verizon’s heartless corporate leaders chose to let it pass.
Shame on them.
Tammie LaClair says
I had no idea about verizon and there heartless stunt over a dollar. I am extremely “OLD SCHOOL”. I am sadly learning how to live in the world today. It seems like overnight this world and people’s values changes. Sadly I can see the selfineness in my children. After everything I have done for them ( beyond my responsibilitIys of being a mom) it’s differcult to feel like they don’t care and respect me in a special way. I grew up in a differcult home. Alcoholic mother who was never involved in my life.When I walked through my door from school there was always that unknown. Most days I would walked into a empty home. If I wanted my mom I would find her at one of the bar room’s. She did get sober and when she passed 4 yrs ago In October I lost my best friend who loved me unconditionally ❤️. Life wasn’t always about that dollar bill and thankfully I had people who cared. There are no longer mama and Papa store’s. This world today is made up of big corporations like Wal mart and verizon. My god you can’t afford cable these days. I see the greed in people who have money that wouldn’t be possible to spend in there lifetime. I then see the one’s who make that money for them. We are the ones that make that money for them. As we work hard bring dedicated to our jobs. I understand that it’s what we need to do just to put food in the fridge. We can’t eat healthy because it above a average 40 plus ( if your lucky enough to get overtime) Speaking of overtime I don’t believe it exsist’s anymore. The 38.5 work week just so they don’t have to pay you benefits should alone be disgraceful for them. Yet it puts many in a place that they make to much money to get any outside 🤔 help. They walk in and you don’t have we dont have a clue to who they are. On thing that I find extremely degrading is they have no idea who you are. What happened to the days when you felt like someone?? What happened to the days when you had a name?? Now that we have allowed for this to take over our world in so many ways it’s become one that is angry and a time clock. Kids are going without and these big rollers haven’t a clue. WHY!! Because some where we lost being a neighbor. Sad 🥺!!!
Alicia Gonzalez says
I am Sorry that victims of domestic violence abuse are going through this, the U.S. has become another third world country/nation where the poor get treated as mere animals who don’t have much saying in anything and the Rich get everything. We are seeing that trend growing in America by the day. Slowly, but Surely, the U.S. is becoming another Colombia and/or Dominican Republic where young women have to prostitute themselves and sleep with the first guy that comes along to give them food and/or a few bucks for survivor. It will be the case in America when women of the poor communities will have to Sleep around with the first men that come along just so they can get a few bucks to feed their children and buy them clothes for school as more and more programs get taken away from the poor. Recently, I watched a Youtube video where Bill & Melinda Gates proudly say that they Raised $6.2 Billion Dollars to End Poverty in Africa, but they NEGLECT the Poverty that is Happening every day right here in America. Such Hypocrisy from the Wealthy here in America.
JD says
And apparently, they are no longer providing grants to domestic violence services agencies, citing STEM as their leading focus; told this by my local rep who has assisted us in getting funding on and off over the few years.
Free Government Cell Phones says
It’s a damn shame.
No longer Faithful says
i don’t suppose the huge amount of FCC fines this company racked up in trying to bilk its customers out of a bunch of money had anything to do with it? This company racked up mega fines for throttling accounts of tons of clients. Im one former customer that will never go back after they tried to say that I racked up $800 in a bill becasue I was playing games on my computer. Get serious Verizon, my computer never saw a game played on it ever. And I will never ever go back to your company because I dont need to be beat up like that.
UNHAPPY WITH VERIZON FOREVER says
Guess the FCC fines this company racked up trying to throttle its customers did not have anything to do with it but what am I?? I am only a former customer of theirs that cant get over the $800 bill they tried to bilk out of me trying to say it was all the games I played on the phone. Really… try sucking an egg Verizon. This computer has never seen a game played on it EVER. And I would not take a free phone from that company if that was the only phone left on the planet… Your HOPELESS company absolutely floors me.