Allstate Foundation Awards $1.2 Million to Expand Programs for Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse Victims Nationally

Purple Purse Moving Ahead Grant Program will provide up to 30,000 survivors with vital tools to help them regain their independence

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Feb 01, 2017, 06:30 ET

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Feb. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Allstate Foundation, a leading advocate for victims of domestic violence and financial abuse, announced today $1.2 million in grants awarded to 20 domestic violence programs around the country. The grants aim to help expand financial empowerment services for approximately 30,000 survivors.

It's an especially important time for domestic violence organizations. Demand for their programs is increasing, yet a lack of funding continues to force them to operate with limited resources. On an average day in 2015, more than 12,000 requests for services by domestic violence victims went unanswered. The Purple Purse Moving Ahead Grants, which will be distributed by the 20 awardees to dozens of local domestic violence programs in their states, aim to provide much-needed financial assistance to the nonprofits and those they serve.

Financial abuse occurs in 99 percent of domestic violence cases. Tactics abusers use include denying victims access to money, ruining victims' credit by stealing their identity or harassing victims at work so they lose their jobs. Without resources of their own, victims are often unable to care for themselves and their families, find employment and housing or save for the future.

"People seem to talk about domestic violence only when it involves famous people, but every day there are millions of women and children suffering at home, in silence," said Vicky Dinges, Allstate's senior vice president of corporate responsibility. "The stats speak for themselves. One in four women will be affected by domestic violence in her lifetime. It's a huge issue and, sadly, there just aren't enough resources or programs today to help victims break free – and stay free – from abusive situations. Financial support like these Allstate Foundation Purple Purse grants will help, but more importantly, we need to stop the violence from happening in the first place. Our society needs to change. Domestic violence in any form – financial, physical or verbal -- is not OK."

The Allstate Foundation awarded the Purple Purse Moving Ahead Grants to 20 domestic violence organizations – 19 National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNDEV) state coalitions and the YWCA of Massachusetts – that have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to ending financial abuse. Allstate Foundation Purple Purse is the longest-running national campaign focused on ending domestic violence through a proven solution: financial empowerment services for survivors.

Each grantee will work with local domestic violence organizations to provide education and support for domestic violence survivors in the areas of financial education, job training, matched-savings programs, no- or low-interest loans and other credit-building services. The Moving Ahead Through Financial Management curriculum, a comprehensive financial literacy tool designed specifically for survivors, is the main financial education resource used to deliver the information.

Grant amounts – up to $70,000 per organization – were based on factors such as program longevity, breadth of financial empowerment services and demonstrated ability to have a sustainable regional or statewide impact. Due to the past success of the program and a growing need to provide financial empowerment services to more survivors, The Allstate Foundation awarded grants to five new organizations this year.

The 2016 Purple Purse Moving Ahead Grant Program recipients are:

Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$70,000
Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence	$70,000
Ohio Domestic Violence Network	$70,000
Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$65,000
Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$65,000
Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition	$65,000
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$65,000
Texas Council on Family Violence	$65,000
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence	$65,000
Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$65,000
Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault	$65,000
Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$55,000
Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Incorporated	$50,000
Minnesota Coalition For Battered Women Inc	$50,000
The North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$50,000
Oklahoma Coalition On Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault	$50,000
YWCA Massachusetts	$50,000
Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$45,000
Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence	$45,000
New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence	$45,000

Since 2005, The Allstate Foundation has donated more than $55 million to help break the cycle of violence, and helped more than 1 million survivors take steps toward recovering their financial independence.

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 building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people's lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.

SOURCE The Allstate Foundation