NORTHBROOK, Ill., Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent
headlines about harassment and violence offer a reminder of the
everyday reality faced by a larger group of U.S. women: those
trapped in abusive domestic relationships. Without financial
resources, these women can't escape, care for themselves and their
families, find housing or save for the future.
Last month, Allstate Foundation Purple Purse and 221 nonprofits
that support domestic violence survivors raised $4.18 million through a combination of
fundraising and $700,000 in incentive
and prize money provided by The Allstate Foundation. In addition to
the prize money, The Foundation also provided
promotional support and fundraising materials, including Purple
Purse charms and a purple purse designed by program ambassador,
tennis champion and philanthropist Serena
Williams.
The YWCA Evanston/North Shore based in Evanston, Ill., topped the leader board in
Division I for organizations with budgets of more than $1.5 million and FreeFrom in Venice, Calif., topped the leader board in
Division II for organizations with budgets of less than
$1.5 million. Each walked away with
the Foundation's $100,000 grand
prizes.
The Purple Purse Challenge coincided with National Domestic
Violence Awareness Month in October, a key fundraising time for
domestic violence programs. A 2016 census survey found that on a
single day last year, nearly 12,000 requests from survivors of
domestic violence for emergency shelter, child care, financial aid
and other services went unanswered because programs lacked
funding.
"One in four women will experience domestic violence in her
lifetime. There are women experiencing abuse right now, and we need
to let them know that there is hope and help," said Vicky Dinges, Allstate's senior vice president
of corporate responsibility. "The outpouring of public support is
incredibly humbling because we know funding matters. This is about
saving women's lives and breaking the cycle of violence for future
generations. And it's going to take all of us – men and women –
supporting survivors and working together to end the silence around
abuse."
Following are the top seven winners from each division in this
year's Purple Purse Challenge:
DIVISION I
Finishing
Place
|
Organization
Name
|
Location
|
Money
raised
|
Prize
money
|
First
place
|
YWCA Evanston/North
Shore
|
Evanston,
Ill.
|
$556,403
|
$100,000
|
Second
place
|
WINGS
Program
|
Palatine,
Ill.
|
$534,656
|
$50,000
|
Third
place
|
YWCA
Greenwich
|
Greenwich,
Conn.
|
$268,154
|
$35,000
|
Fourth
place
|
YWCA of Metropolitan
Chicago
|
Chicago
|
$160,880
|
$20,000
|
Fifth
place
|
liveSAFE
Resources
|
Marietta,
Ga.
|
$133,026
|
$15,000
|
Sixth
place
|
Between
Friends
|
Chicago
|
$100,811
|
$10,000
|
Seventh
place
|
House of
Ruth
|
Pomona,
Calif.
|
$93,309
|
$5,000
|
DIVISION II
Finishing
Place
|
Organization
Name
|
Location
|
Money
raised
|
Prize
money
|
First
place
|
FreeFrom
|
Venice,
Calif.
|
$179,576
|
$100,000
|
Second
place
|
Partners for Women
and
Justice
|
Montclair,
N.J.
|
$178,785
|
$50,000
|
Third
place
|
Wellspring
|
|
$79,903
|
$35,000
|
Fourth
place
|
Artemis Center for
Alternatives
to Domestic Violence
|
Dayton,
Ohio
|
$56,790
|
$20,000
|
Fifth
place
|
New Hampshire
Coalition
Against Domestic and Sexual
Violence
|
Concord,
N.H.
|
$32,185
|
$15,000
|
Sixth
place
|
Haven
|
Portsmouth,
N.H.
|
$30,932
|
$10,000
|
Seventh
place
|
Beyond
Violence
|
Berwick,
Penn.
|
$20,350
|
$5,000
|
The Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge was administered
by CrowdRise. It is part of Allstate Foundation Purple Purse, a
public education and fundraising program aimed at raising awareness
of the prevalence of domestic violence and financial abuse and the
need for resources to help survivors. In 99 percent of domestic
violence cases, victims experience financial abuse, which means
their abusers deny them access to money and financial resources
they need to break free. Financial abuse is one of the leading
reasons women stay in or return to abusive relationships.
Now in its 13th year, Allstate Foundation Purple
Purse has propelled more than 1 million survivors on the path to
safety and security, and invested more than $55 million to empower women to break free from
abuse through life-changing financial education, job training and
readiness, and small-business programs for survivors.
If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation,
call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
(7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
About The Allstate Foundation:
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent
charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The
Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with
nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation
brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to
support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's
well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial
independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and
celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency
owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out
the good in people's lives. For more information, visit
www.AllstateFoundation.org.
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SOURCE The Allstate Foundation