THE Mary Kay FoundationSM Awards Safe Harbor $20,000 Grant
for Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness
Richmond, VA (October 4, 2012) — Safe Harbor, a local women’s shelter serving Richmond, VA, received a $20,000 grant from The Mary Kay FoundationSM. In observation of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, The Mary Kay FoundationSM awards $20,000 grants to more than 150 domestic violence shelters across the country for a total of $3 million.
Safe Harbor will use the grant to provide critical support for its emergency shelter program. When survivors of domestic violence leave an abusive relationship, finding a safe place to stay is crucial since leaving is one of the most dangerous times for survivors. Without emergency shelters, many survivors face the unimaginable choice of either becoming homeless or returning to their abuser. During their stay, families participate in intensive counseling and support services. The shelter provides a safe place for survivors and their children as they plan for the future. In FY12, Safe Harbor provided over 2,600 nights of safe shelter.
“This funding support from the Mary Kay Foundation will help us to provide safety and sanctuary to 100 survivors of sexual and domestic violence through our emergency shelter and transitional housing program,” stated Kathleen Demro, Safe Harbor’s Executive Director
Safe Harbor provides critical support to those impacted by sexual and domestic violence through emergency and transitional housing, court advocacy, hospital accompaniment (RHART), community counseling for adults and children/youth and hotline programs. Safe Harbor also promotes healthy relationships and provides education about the agency and the issues of sexual and domestic violence.
“The Mary Kay FoundationSM is committed to breaking the cycle of domestic violence.” said Anne Crews, Mary Kay Inc. Vice President of Government Relations and board member for The Mary Kay FoundationSM. “Through our grants, we honor and support shelters across the country that are having a profound impact for women and children in their communities. Since 2000, we have granted $31 million to help domestic violence shelters meet their critical needs and support their ongoing community efforts.”
Here is the link to Mary Kay Foundation’s website article on the awards.
About The Mary Kay FoundationSM
The Mary Kay FoundationSM 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. Since the Foundation’s inception, it has awarded nearly $31 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and more than $18 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about The Mary Kay FoundationSM, visit marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).
About Safe Harbor
Safe Harbor’s empowers survivors of sexual and domestic violence to transform their lives, and promotes healthy relationships for all. The agency was born through the efforts of a St. Mary’s Hospital emergency room nurse who was devastated by the number of domestic abuse victims she treated. As a result, Safe Harbor opened in April 2000. It has grown from an emergency shelter to offering additional critical supportive services including a 24-hour confidential helpline (804-287-7877), community counseling programs for adults and children, community support groups in English and Spanish, court advocacy, hospital accompaniment and community education and outreach services. For more information, log on to www.safeharborshelter.com or www.facebook.com/SafeHarborRVA.
###