Watch CBS News

Race Fans Asked To Donate Old Cell Phones To Detroit HopeLine

By Edward Cardenas

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) - Race fans attending the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix can donate their unused wireless phones and accessories to benefit Detroit HopeLine.

Verizon, IndyCar, the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) have teamed up to set up donation sites set up at the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and Verizon Wireless for HopeLine.

Donated phones - which will be accepted in any condition from any carrier - are refurbished and
recycled. Proceeds from the drive will support
domestic violence awareness and prevention programs.

"Domestic violence is a plague on society and a lot of individuals, both men and women, feel hopeless," said Verizon Region President Lauren Love-Wright, whose company also donates phones  with talk and text time to local domestic violence agencies or law enforcement agencies for use by domestic violence survivors. "Giving them a phone allows them to stay connected with family and friends, allows them to call for help … sometimes even get a new job."

American Axle, the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and Verizon donated $30,000 last week to the YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit for its Emergency Shelter Fund in advance of the race weekend donation drive.

The Detroit HopeLine drive is part of a national effort by HopeLine to collect 1 million phone donations in 2015.

YWCA of Detroit President and CEO Emma Peterson stated her organization receive 5,000 crisis calls annually and work with nearly 1,800 women and children who are admitted to the YWCA Interim House program.

"The economic downturn has hurt many businesses, and it also hurt our shelter as well," said Peterson, who appreciated the donation. "Now we will be able to provide more services in a shorter period of time."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.