Latin Celebrities Participate In ‘Signature Wireless Phone Auction’.

As part of October’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Yahoo! Everywhere, Yahoo! en español, the Wireless Foundation, Motorola and Sprint PCS today unveiled the “Celebrity Signature Wireless Phone Campaign.” This consumer education and domestic violence awareness initiative was created to protect victims from abuse and raise funds and awareness for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). In light of recent events, NCADV will give 50 percent of funds raised to The September 11th Fund, established by United Way and the New York Community Trust.

Starting Monday, October 22, consumers can bid on their favorite celebrity-designed wireless phones on Yahoo! Auctions (http://auctions.yahoo.com), donate their no-longer-used wireless phones via Donate a Phone (www.donateaphone.com), buy a new phone through Yahoo! Mobile Store (http://mobile.yahoo.com/store), and make a direct online donation to the NCADV. The campaign runs through October 30, 2001, and will be featured on Yahoo! Mobile, Yahoo! Auctions, and other areas of the Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO) global network including Yahoo! en español (http://espanol.yahoo.com), which features Spanish language Web programming relevant to U.S. Hispanic consumers. (See related video at http://webevents.broadcast.com/yahoo/celebrity_designed_wireless_phones_auction/)

More than 40 celebrity supporters joined in the efforts to create unique phone faceplates to be auctioned on Yahoo! Auctions, one of the largest, globally-branded auction sites on the Internet and part of the new Yahoo! Shopping network. Each auction package includes a celebrity decorated Motorola wireless phone faceplate, along with a Motorola Talkabout 8167 phone and one year of Sprint PCS wireless service. Learn more about the campaign at http://promo.yahoo.com/celebrityphones.

Funds raised benefit the NCADV, The September 11th Fund, and the Wireless Foundation’s CALL to PROTECT program, a wireless industry initiative sponsored by Motorola to provide victims of abuse with instant access to emergency help through the use of a wireless phone.

“Yahoo!, the Wireless Foundation, Motorola and Sprint PCS have come together to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence and empower our global audience to help make a difference in the lives of victims in need,” said Linda Bennett, senior brand manager, Yahoo!. “A wireless phone in the hands of domestic violence victims can mean the difference between life and death. Through the campaign, we can further the important efforts of the NCADV and the CALL to PROTECT program, and ensure that every woman in need has access to a lifeline.”

“Every day, more than 5,000 women become victims of domestic violence,” said celebrity couple Teá Leoni and David Duchovny. “We are pleased to participate in a program which brings victims of domestic violence together with wireless phones. These are powerful tools that can make a world of difference.”

“I am honored to be part of this campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence,” said Denise Quiñones, Miss Universe 2001. “Reaching out to abused women and educating them on resources available is an important first step. Wireless phones have proven to be indispensable in critical situations.”

“Unfortunately, there are an estimated four million domestic violence victims each year,” said Rita Smith, executive director of the NCADV. “This national fundraising initiative helps bring a level of awareness to domestic violence that we could not have achieved without our friends at Yahoo!, the Wireless Foundation, Motorola, and Sprint PCS. With their continued assistance and with the participation of so many celebrity supporters, we will continue to help women regain the confidence and freedom they so rightly deserve and help save women’s lives.”

Smith added: “Violence, whether in a home or against a nation, can not be tolerated. NCADV’s goal is to bring peace to our homes. That is why, as part of the campaign, fifty percent of the funds raised through this auction will go to help those families and communities suffering from the September 11th attacks on America.”

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