Help Get the Word Out #GalPal

Growing up, I saw several women I love, suffer from domestic abuse. The toil it took on them went deeper than the physical.  Their entire self-worth, confidence, hope, and life was wrapped up in their experience.  It hurts a person for the moment, but can depress a person for a lifetime. Being abused or raped is something that many women have faced.  The fact is, these horrific experiences are not uncommon.  The shame and distance that it causes makes a person feel that they are alone and isolated. Many also feel that there are no other people facing a similar plight, but they are not alone.

If you are a person going that is in an abusive relationship or has been abused.  Remember you are beautiful, regardless of what has occurred, you are not alone please seek help.

  • The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−SAFE(7233) or TTY 1−800−787−3224. Anonymous & Confidential Help 24/7
PLEASE HELP US GET THE WORD OUT!

The Startling Facts

  • Each day in the U.S., 3 women die as a result of domestic violence. (1)
  • More than 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. (2)
  • Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans know someone who is or has been a victim.
  • Only 54 percent of Americans have talked to a friend about domestic violence, and only 56 percent would know what to do to help a victim of domestic violence. (3)

When I was about 9 years old, I can remember hiding under my bed shivering, afraid, with tears in my eyes, praying that my sister’s boyfriend would not kill us. They both were fighting and yelling outside while he had a gun in his hand. I heard him fire two shots and I thought my world was changed forever.  It was, but thankfully, not the way I had imagined.  By God’s grace my sister was OK, but her spirit and heart was wounded. To all of the people going through a horrible domestic violence situation in your relationship, please have the confidence to seek help.  Seek refuge before it is too late, before your life is hindered and your spirit is forever wounded.

Let’s face domestic violence together – Tell a Gal Pal to:

  • Talk openly about domestic violence. Tell your Gal Pals – whether it’s your best friend, sister, mother, daughter, niece, cousin or neighbor – to face domestic violence, share their opinions and experiences and show support for survivors.
  • Speak out against domestic violence when you see it. Call the police or National Domestic Violence Hotline to report domestic violence in your community – you could help save a life.
  • Visit ClickToEmpower.org for easy ways start the conversation, check out resources for survivors or read inspirational survivor stories.
  • You can also show your support for domestic violence survivors by volunteering at or donating items to your local domestic violence shelter. Contact your state domestic violence coalition for more information. Click here for a complete list of state coalitions.
Pledge to Tell a Gal Pal and Help Raise Money to Support Domestic Violence Survivors
We also ask that you get involved by joining the Tell a Gal Pal movement on Facebook and encouraging your readers and followers to do the same to help raise money to support domestic violence survivors. Tell a Gal Pal and share this information with your blog readers and Twitter followers!
  • For each person who “likes” the Click To Empower! Facebook page, The Allstate Foundation will donate $1 to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (up to $20,000). Click here to go to the Facebook page.
  • The Allstate Foundation will donate another $1 if you take the pledge to Tell a Gal Pal about domestic violence. As part of the pledge, your photo will be added to the “Faces of Support” gallery to show survivors that they aren’t facing domestic violence alone.
  • Help us reach our goal of raising $20,000. Tell a Gal Pal to join the movement on Facebook.
About The Allstate Foundation’s Domestic Violence Program
The Allstate Foundation’s Domestic Violence Program was created to help domestic violence survivors overcome economic challenges and lead financially independent lives, free from abuse. Through a partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the program provides a network of financial resources, including a comprehensive financial empowerment curriculum; funds direct services, including education and job training assistance; and spreads the word on how to empower those touched by domestic and economic abuse. For more information and to find out how to help, visit www.ClickToEmpower.org.
About the Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Allstate and The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote “safe and vital communities;” “tolerance, inclusion, and diversity;”and “economic empowerment.” The Allstate Foundation believes in the financial potential of every individual and in helping America’s families achieve their American dream. For additional information, visit www.ClickToEmpower.org.

***The Videos both contain graphic information and needs to be censored from younger viewers.***

“Love is Blind” Video about Rape & Abusive Relationships music/song by Creed “Thorn”

Eve “Love is Blind”


Learn More on Facebook

Click to Empower

I wrote this blog post while participating in The Allstate Foundation’s Tell a Gal Pal blogging program with TwitterMoms, making me eligible to get an interview with Cheryl Burke. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Footnotes:
(1) Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003.
(2) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.  Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence, July 2000.
(3) Murphy Marketing Research, The Allstate Foundation National Poll on Domestic Violence, June 2009.
(4) Twittermoms, Tell a Gal Pal about domestic violence. http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/tell-a-gal-pal-about-domestic, October 3, 2010
(5) Youtube, uploaded by myshel988 “Love is Blind” Video about Rape & Abusive Relationships music/song by Creed “Thorn,” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFWpf97gS3c October 3, 2010
(6) Youtube, uploaded by oOMontelTVOo, song by Eve “Love is Blind,” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh64nY2pQqU&feature=player_embedded October 3, 2010
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