October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It also happens to be the month that the Allstate Foundation hosts its annual Purple Purse Challenge, an incredible fundraising opportunity for nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. This is the second time that Blackburn Center has competed in the Challenge, which raised $3.75 million for nearly 200 domestic violence organizations in 2016.
Domestic violence services are vitally important in Westmoreland County and throughout Pennsylvania, and yet are often underfunded. Allstate Foundation has identified financial stability issues for domestic violence victims as a priority concern, and has developed resources to support programs that address these and other issues important to victims. On an average day in 2016, 12,000 requests from domestic violence and financial abuse survivors for services such as childcare and rent went unmet. The Purple Purse Challenge provides a critical funding source for domestic violence organizations who increasingly face high demand for their services, even as they operate with limited resources.
The way that the Purple Purse Challenge works is simple. Nonprofit organizations compete for a chance to receive a grant of up to $100,000. This friendly competition consists of each organization raising money to support their mission, and competing in various challenges along the way. The Allstate Foundation chose the symbol, a purple purse, to represent both the color related to domestic violence awareness and financial security. Many women in abusive relationships have difficulty leaving their abusers because they are financially unable to do so. A purse represents financial security to many women. By donating to Blackburn Center through the Purple Purse Challenge, you can help us continue to provide services to victims of domestic violence and all types of violence, and to potentially help women in Westmoreland County escape an abusive relationship. Beyond what is raised specifically for Blackburn Center’s services, all proceeds at a national level from the Purple Purse Challenge go directly to nonprofits that provide life-changing financial empowerment services to help domestic violence victims construct safer lives for themselves and for their families.
This October, you can participate in Domestic Violence Awareness Month in a new way. By donating to Blackburn Center through the Purple Purse Challenge, you can help us continue to provide critical services to victims of domestic violence in Westmoreland County! And you can also show your support for survivors by purchasing Purple Purse charms for $10 through PurplePurse.com between Oct. 2 and Oct. 31. Each charm comes with a short story about a domestic violence survivor who used financial resources to regain her independence. Proceeds from charm sales benefit 2017 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge participants.
At Blackburn Center, we offer services to all victims of domestic violence, including women, children and men. If you need help, you can contact us anytime at 1-888-832-2272 or 724-836-1122. For more information about how we can help, click here to view our list of services for victims of violence.
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