Verizon, INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced May 7 joint participation in a HopeLine drive throughout May to raise critical funds and awareness of domestic violence prevention.

HopeLine offers the public an opportunity to help prevent domestic violence by donating no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories in any condition from any carrier. Wireless phones given to HopeLine are refurbished and recycled in an environmentally sound way, generating proceeds going toward financial support of domestic violence awareness and prevention programs. Verizon also donates phones through HopeLine — complete with service — to local domestic violence agencies or law enforcement agencies for use by domestic violence survivors.

Verizon kicked off the program with a $50,000 grant to the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence to help remedy a statewide shortfall in its Emergency Housing and Transportation Survivor Fund. Helio Castroneves, driver of the No. 3 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, launched the drive by donating the first phone into a HopeLine box – the same kind of box that will be found at various points around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.

“We’re encouraging race fans and members of the community to try to support HopeLine so that we can come together to prevent domestic violence,” Castroneves said. “Be sure to tell everyone if you’re coming to the racetrack.”

The drive invites racing fans to bring their no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories from any wireless carrier to donation sites throughout Indiana. The Indiana drive is also part of a national goal from HopeLine to collect 1 million phone donations in 2015. For a list of donation sites across Indiana, including Verizon Wireless stores, visit http://bit.ly/1EO6cz9

During the Month of May, race fans can find HopeLine volunteers and boxes at IMS at Gates 1, 3, 9 and 10-A at the following events:

* Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 9
* Indianapolis 500 qualifications on May 16
* Old National Armed Forces Pole Day on May 17
* Coors Light Carb Day on May 22
* Indianapolis 500 on May 24

Those who donate are encouraged to tweet photos of their donations with the hashtag #VZHopeLineIN. The Indiana drive with community partners for public drives and employee collections will run through June 7.