This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect & the Allstate Foundation. All opinions are mine.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As someone who has experienced abusive relationships in the past, this campaign is very important to me. Domestic violence affects 1 in 4 women in their lifetime. Domestic violence happens more than 145 times each hour in the U.S. and on average, 3 women die every day as a result. It affects more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined. Domestic violence is one of our nation’s “dirty little secrets.” Nobody likes to talk about it, in fact, 1/3 of Americans have NEVER discussed it with their loved ones. The Allstate Foundation wants to change that!
To start people talking about domestic violence, (and help those in abusive relationships get out, remain safe & thrive), The Allstate Foundation created Purple Purse and PurplePurse.com. The Purple Purse was created because a purse represents the center of a woman’s financial domain and purple is the color used by domestic violence awareness campaigns. The website appears to be an online fashion magazine, but when the user looks more deeply, she will find a safe place with a variety of information and resources specific to the issue of domestic violence and financial empowerment.
A lack of financial knowledge and resources is the number one indicator of whether a domestic violence victim will stay, leave or return to an abusive relationship. Many people don’t realize that women who are victims of domestic violence are usually subject to financial abuse along with the physical abuse. They often face financial restrictions and are given limited access, if any, to bank accounts, important documents, and information about shared assets. This makes it even harder to escape the situations they find themselves in. Finances are a tool used by abusers to control their victims. It’s hard to leave an abusive situation, when you have no money!
As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, The Allstate Foundation is sending 1,300 purses carrying domestic violence information throughout the country. The purses will be passed between co-workers, friends, and family, igniting important conversations along the way. For every Purple Purse passed through the end of October, The Allstate Foundation will donate $5 to YWCA and will give up to $350,000 for programs aimed to help domestic violence survivors and stop the cycle of abuse. The YWCA is the nation’s largest domestic violence service provider & is committed to breaking the cycle of abuse.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Taking action against Domestic Violence is simple – Purple Purse: Pass It On!
I’m giving you your very own “virtual” Purple Purse! Just go to
PurplePurse.com and enter the code 0003, it’s that easy! Please take a moment to visit the website & enter the code, women’s lives depend on it!
You can even follow the Purple Purses journey around the country, track the YWCA’s progress towards their $350,000 goal, & get tips to help you start talking about domestic violence.
I have my own Purple Purse that I will be sending to someone I know- she will then enter the code attached to it & send it to someone she knows… and so forth & so on. The entire time, we will all be talking about domestic violence & helping earn money for the women that need it.
If you know someone that’s being abused, or if you yourself are being abused, please get help! Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (or have someone call it for you!) at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). There is a way out-there are people willing to help you.
