Allstate Foundation Awards $1 Million in Grants to Fund Financial Empowerment for Domestic Violence Survivors

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Allstate Foundation announced 14 recipients in a one-of-a-kind grant program supporting financial empowerment services for domestic violence survivors. The Moving Ahead Financial Empowerment Grant Program, now in its seventh year, provides funds to state domestic violence coalitions to help address the No. 1 reason victims stay in and return to violent relationships—finances.

"New research shows that three in five Americans know someone who has been the victim of abuse and more than one in four have been abused themselves," said Vicky Dinges, senior vice president of Corporate Responsibility at Allstate. "In almost all of these situations, financial abuse and control are used to trap women in abusive relationships. These grants will help women and their families leave abuse behind and take control of their financial futures."

The 2014 Moving Ahead Financial Empowerment Grant recipients are:

Each grantee will work with local domestic violence organizations to provide education and support for domestic violence survivors in the areas of budgeting, credit repair and management, investing, and retirement planning. The Moving Ahead Through Financial Management curriculum, designed specifically for survivors, is the main financial education resource used to deliver the information.

Additionally, each of the grantees has identified a focus area in one or more of the following categories:

Job Readiness and Job Training: Helping survivors get or maintain training and meaningful employment, such as resume writing, developing interview skills and hard skills.

Matched Savings Program including IDAs: Helping survivors make the most of their savings and grow their savings using asset building strategies through one-to-one match savings accounts.

Micro-Loan: Providing smalls loans at no or low interest with flexible repayment rules and options. The loans are used as a means to improve or establish credit.

Since 2005, The Allstate Foundation has been helping survivors overcome abuse by partnering with the National Network to End Domestic Violence and local nonprofits. More than 400,000 domestic violence survivors have been reached with financial empowerment services more than 7,717 advocates have been trained on the program's main financial education resource: The Moving Ahead Through Financial Management curriculum.

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). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.

SOURCE The Allstate Foundation