This is part of a sponsored campaign in collaboration with Allstate Foundation® and Latina Bloggers Connect. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
by Linda Castillo
Domestic violence is something that happens all too often but is rarely talked about. In fact, domestic violence affects one in four women in her lifetime – that’s more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined. It is a common misconception that domestic violence is only physical abuse when in reality about 98% of all cases of domestic violence cases financial abuse is on of the most powerful ways to control a survivor. New evidence from the Center on Violence Against Women and Children at Rutgers University School of Social Work indicates that boosting a survivor’s financial literacy, skills and resources can create a path toward long-term safety and security for survivors.
Sometimes you may know someone who is in an abusive situation and not even realize it. I remember in my early twenties one of my good friends was in an abusive relationship and she kept it a secret for a long time. I remember she would come to work with bruises and say she hurt herself over the weekend. She was always boating, camping and athletic so I didn’t think anything of it. Sometimes I would see her upset and crying after a phone call with her then boyfriend. I figured it was the typical boyfriend drama. Soon she stopped hanging out with the girls and became more and more distant. I my mind, I thought things were going great with her new boyfriend and she was getting more serious by spending more time with him. I didn’t think anything of what I was seeing until the night she confided in me that her boyfriend was abusive and she was scared to get out of the relationship. I was in shock because she kept the dark secret hidden so well and I never thought it could happen to one of my friends. Thankfully, she got out of the relationship but for many women this transition is difficult.
To help women in this difficult situation, The Allstate Foundation created the Purple Purse as the Foundation’s national symbol for domestic violence and financial abuse to raise awareness and get people to talk about this important issue and be a part of the Purple Purse Challenge. As part of this challenge The Allstate Foundation to raise money for 145 nonprofit community partners across the U.S. who provide critical financial empowerment services for domestic violence survivors.
You can be a part of this challenge and make the difference for a woman who is restarting her life by opening your heart by making a contribution by visiting from September 2 to make a donation through October 3. The Allstate Foundation is investing more than half a million dollars in the Purple Purse Challenge. The Allstate Foundation is matching the contributions by investing more than a half a million dollars in the Purple Purse Challenge. The more donations each Community Partner gets, the more Allstate Foundation funding the organization is eligible to receive.
Actress Kerry Washington is the programs ambassador and she has designed a limited-edition purple purse provided to help raise awareness.
PurplePurse.com has important tips and tools to help you recognize domestic violence and financial abuse, talk about it and end it. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
Let’s start the conversation and help end domestic violence.
Linda Castillo is the Founder and Executive Editor of www.ModernLatina.com. She writes on topics that empower and inspire Latinas including art, motherhood, green living, culture, travel, and issues transforming the Latino community. Linda has earned a B.S. in Business and a M.S. in Mass Communications from San Jose State University.