As Mother's Day Approaches, a Richmond Police Detective Remembers the

RICHMOND, Va., May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Although it's been more than 25 years since Richmond Police Detective Carol Adams lost her mother Orine in a tragic domestic violence incident, Adams will realize a long held dream this week, just days before Mother's Day.

Verizon Wireless, through its HopeLine(R) phone-recycling program, is donating $5,000 to the YWCA of Richmond to refurbish a playground at the Y's domestic violence shelter in honor of Orine Adams.

The company is also naming Detective Adams, a "HopeLine Hero" in recognition of the thousands of phones she has personally collected to help today's victims of domestic violence throughout Virginia.

At a ceremony at the downtown YWCA, Richmond Police Chief Rodney Monroe commended Detective Adams for her leadership on domestic violence prevention and provided a grim reminder of the scope of the problem. "Detective Adams is a community advocate for victims of violence and for the city's youth," Chief Monroe said. "She never asks for anything in return for her unselfish acts. She simply gives from her heart."

Carol Adams was 17 and her sister, Patsy Turner, was just 16 when their mother was killed on New Year's Eve in 1980. Despite the sisters' many accomplishments -- Carol, a forensics detective, is a mother of three and a grandmother; Patsy has two children and is with the Richmond Sheriff's Department -- the sisters have been haunted by their loss.

Adams' efforts to help domestic violence victims led her to Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program, which collects previously owned wireless handsets and chargers to be refurbished, recycled and/or sold. In return, Verizon Wireless makes cash contributions and donates wireless phones and airtime to domestic violence prevention programs and service providers. Over the past few years, Adams has run wireless phone recycling drives in partnership with the Richmond police department and has worked tirelessly to spread the word about the importance of HopeLine phone collections in the community.

"Today, I'm donating another 1,200 phones to the HopeLine program," said Detective Adams. "I'm making this donation not only in loving memory of my own mother but in honor of all the mothers who are struggling to leave abusive relationships. If my efforts can help just one victim, none of this will have been in vain."

Verizon Wireless director of community relations John Johnson said, "Carol Adams is the very definition of a HopeLine Hero. She has channeled her grief into a tireless passion for helping domestic violence victims. We are honored to know her and grateful to work side-by-side with her to help improve the lives of those who've been abused."

The YWCA Richmond Shelter, the beneficiary of the HopeLine grant, is located on a busy, city road. Currently, the shelter's back yard is fenced in for safety and includes several small outdoor toys unsuitable for a facility that houses nearly 200 children each year. The HopeLine grant will allow the YWCA to create a safe and fun outdoor play area.

"Our families come here for safety and support and a chance for a new life," said Cathy Pond, executive director of the YWCA of Richmond. "These children have not had anywhere to play and to just be kids. This grant in honor of Orine Adams will allow them to do just that, in some cases, for the first time in their young lives."

Through the HopeLine program, more than $800,000 has been donated to shelters and organizations to support domestic violence prevention programs and victims' services. In 2004, consumers donated a record 750,000 phones to HopeLine, up more than 35 percent from the previous year. Since the national phone collection program began in 2001, more than two million phones have been donated. Phones can be dropped off at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores for recycling through HopeLine.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 45.5 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (LONDON: VOD) . Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto http://www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.

About the YWCA of Richmond

The YWCA has provided a support system for women in the Richmond area since 1887. The YWCA Domestic Violence Program offers crisis intervention, safe shelter, and life-rebuilding services to victims of domestic violence. The organization operates two emergency shelters where a woman and her children can gain access to the shelters at any time and stay as long as she is working toward her stated goals. While in shelter, women have access to childcare, counseling, case management, employment and legal assistance. The Domestic Violence program also includes two 24-hour hotlines which provide information and referrals to anyone affected by domestic violence. For more information, http://www.ywcarichmond.org/