Throughout Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, The Mary Kay Foundation is awarding $20,000 grants to 150 domestic violence shelters across the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam for a total of $3 million. Local shelter, The Safe Place, Inc., was chosen to receive one of the annual grants to further the organization’s™ efforts to combat domestic violence and provide rehabilitation services throughout Conway and Perry counties. This year’s highly sought-after grant slate brings the total investment in The Foundation’s™ annual shelter grant program to nearly $42 million.
The Safe Place will use the grant funding for basic operating needs and completing repairs and renovations. Other recipients use the unrestricted funds for basic operating expenses, hiring much-needed personnel, completing repairs and renovations or adding programs and resources based on the unique needs of their shelter and the clients they serve.
“At The Safe Place, we are incredibly grateful for support from The Mary Kay Foundation and its continued commitment to break the cycle of domestic violence. A grant such as this means not only providing funding, but also providing encouragement as we fight the battle against domestic violence together. This will help our organization by providing needed resources,”said Jo Warren, Executive Director.
In 2016, The Safe Place received a combined total of 208 unduplicated domestic violence calls, an increase of 41 calls. The Safe Place served a total of 902 primary and secondary victims of family violence to stabilize their lives after victimization and prevent further incidents of family violence. Their prevention classes educated 4,655 students in the Perry and Conway County area. Considering the rural status, poverty level, current economic conditions, unemployment rate, law enforcement calls and their 2016 statistics, they expect very similar if not higher numbers for 2017.
The Safe Place provides 24 hours per day, 7 days per week direct services to primary and secondary victims of family violence for the purpose of preventing further violence, helping such victims gain access to civil and criminal courts and other community services, facilitating the efforts of such victims to make decisions concerning their lives in the interest of safety, and assisting such victims in healing from the effects of the violence.
Related assistance includes:
- Shelter to provide immediate temporary refuge and related assistance to include crisis counseling, crisis hotline counseling, food, clothing, follow-up contact, group support, self-esteem classes linking with domestic violence, information and referral to community social services, transportation and technical assistance with respect to obtaining financial assistance, and referrals for appropriate health-care services;
- Court advocacy from the courthouse to provide direct services with information and assistance to victims of domestic violence, and coordinated efforts between the law enforcement, prosecution, the civil and criminal court, advocacy assistance with filing police and compensation reports. This position will be on call to assist the Morrilton Police Department as an advocate and liaison for the victim;
- Prevention services such as outreach and prevention services for victims and their children, assistance for children who witness domestic violence, parenting and other educational services for victims and their children, preventive health services to include promoting nutrition, disease prevention,exercise, domestic violence prevention programs such as dating violence and bullying classes for school-age children, family violence public awareness events.
These services will respond to the emotional and physical needs of victims of family violence assisting them to stabilize their lives after victimization and assist victims to understand for the prevention of further victimization of family violence.
More than 700 domestic violence shelters nationwide applied for The Mary Kay Foundation shelter grants this year, which demonstrates the overwhelming need to maintain critical services and provide a safe haven for the survivors of an epidemic that impacts one in every four woman,” said Anne Crews, board member of The Mary Kay Foundation and Vice President of Public Affairs for Mary Kay Inc. “Working to prevent and end domestic violence is a cornerstone of The Foundation, Mary Kay Inc. and for countless members of our independent sales force, Since 2000, the Foundation has invested tens of millions of dollars in our shelter grant program and without a doubt, we know these funds make a difference in homes and communities across the country.”
Mary Kay Inc.’s™ global cause-related program, Beauty that Counts, helps support The Foundation’s™ annual shelter grant program. Applications for the 2018 shelter grant program will be available January 15 through April 30. Please visit maykayfoundation.org for additional information and for the full list of 2017 shelter grant recipients.
About the Mary Kay Foundation
The Mary Kay Foundation was created in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. The Mary Kay Foundation has awarded $70.7 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about the Mary Kay Foundation, please visit www.marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).
About The Safe Place
If you have questions about any of the projects, about domestic violence or The Safe Place please call 1-888-554-2501 or 501-354-1884, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Leave a Reply