NFL Players Association Joins Justice Department Effort to Raise Awareness Around Violence Against Women

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Justice Department today announced that the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has joined its year-long campaign to commemorate the 15 year anniversary of President Bill Clinton signing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) into law. The NFLPA has "Joined the List," a group of more than 100 celebrities including actors, musicians and athletes, who have lent their names to raise awareness with their fans, through Web and fan sites, and social networking profiles.

In addition to the NFLPA, 16 players - including New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett, both of whom will play in the Super Bowl on Sunday - have lent their names to this initiative.

Today, the NFLPA also announced its partnership with the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), a grantee of the Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), on their "Callout Card" contest as part of their That's Not Cool teen initiative. The contest is designed to engage youth and invites teens to create "callout cards" that can be used to raise awareness of teen dating abuse. The contest's grand prize winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the NFL PLAYERS Gala, and will have a chance to walk the red carpet and meet with top NFL stars. Four runners-up will receive autographed NFL memorabilia, such as a jersey or helmet. Ten honorable mention winners will receive That's Not Cool t-shirts and NFLPA hats. The contest, for teenagers ranging in age from 13 to 18, continues through March 15. For more information, go to: www.thatsnotcool.com/contest.

This initiative is especially focused on the use of new technology to harass and abuse. One in four teens in a relationship say they have been harassed or put down by their partner through their cell phone and texting, and more than 60 percent of teens have been pressured to engage in "sexting."

To commemorate the 15th anniversary of VAWA, the Department of Justice is working to raise public awareness on issues around violence against women, to build and renew coalitions among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and victim services communities, and to end stalking, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence for men, women and children across the country. A list of celebrities who have "Joined the List" is below:

Aaron Eckhart - Actor

Alexis Bledel - Actress

Amanda Beard - Olympic Gold-Medal Swimmer

Amber Heard - Actress

Amy Poehler - Actress, Comedienne

Ashley Judd - Actress

Barbara Walters - Journalist, Writer, Television Hostess

Brian White - Actor

Chamique Holdsclaw - Atlanta Dream, WNBA

Chrisette Michele - Singer-songwriter

Christina Ricci - Actress

Cristian De la Fuente - Actor

Cuba Gooding, Jr. - Actor

Curtis Granderson - New York Yankees, MLB

Cynthia Cooper - Former American basketball player, Former NCAA and WNBA Coach, WNBA Hall of Fame Inductee

Debbie Allen - Actress, Choreographer, Director, Producer

Diane Keaton - Actress, Director, Producer

Dominique Dawes - Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast

Ellen DeGeneres - Talk Show Hostess, Comedienne, Actress

Elisabeth Hasselbeck -Television Hostess

Emily Blunt - Actress

Emmy Rossum- Actress, Singer-songwriter

Erin Brockovich - Lawyer

Eva Mendes - Actress

Faith Hill - Singer, Actress

Fiona Apple - Singer-songwriter

Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon - Actress

Ginuwine - Singer

Idris Elba - Actor

Irene Bedard - Actress

Jaime Pressly - Actress

James Carville - Political Advisor

Jason Bateman - Actor

Jenna Fischer - Actress, Writer

Jennifer Love Hewitt - Actress, singer-songwriter

Joe Torre - Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Founder of the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation

Joey Fatone - Singer

John Lithgow - Actor

Joy Behar - Actress, Comedienne, Writer, Television Hostess

Judy Blume - Author

Kevin Spacey - Actor

Kristina Guerrero - Television Hostess

Kyra Sedgwick - Actress

Linda Fairstein - Author

Leeza Gibbons - Talk Show Host

Leslie Morgan Steiner - Author

Lisa Leslie - Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA, Olympic Gold Medal Basketball Player

LisaRaye McCoy-Misick - Actress

Marcus Johnson -Musician

Mariska Hargitay - Actress, Founder and President of the Joyful Heart Foundation

Martina McBride - Singer-Songwriter

Matt Dillon - Actor

MC Lyte - Emcee-Songwriter, Actress

Melissa Joan Hart - Actress

Meryl Streep - Actress

Michael Bolton - Singer

Michelle Pfeiffer - Actress

Michelle Williams - Actress

Mira Sorvino - Actress

Nastia Liukin - Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast

The NFL Players Association, including:

Adalius Thomas - New England Patriots, NFL

Brandon Moore - New York Jets, NFL

Darrell Green - Washington Redskins, NFL (Retired)

Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints, NFL

Erik Coleman - Atlanta Falcons, NFL

Gary Brackett - Indianapolis Colts, NFL

George Wilson - Buffalo Bills, NFL

Hank Fraley - Cleveland Browns, NFL

Jay Feely - New York Jets, NFL

Jerricho Cotchery - New York Jets, NFL

Kareem McKenzie - New York Giants, NFL

LaDainian Tomlinson - San Diego Chargers, NFL

Muhsin Muhammad - Carolina Panthers, NFL

Nate Kaeding - San Diego Chargers, NFL

Quintin Mikell - Philadelphia Eagles, NFL

Shaun O'Hara - New York Giants, NFL

Steve Hutchinson - Minnesota Vikings, NFL

Tony Dungy - Former Coach for the Indianapolis Colts, Author

The National Hockey League (NHL)

Nia Long - Actress, Director

Nicole Kidman - Actress

Omar Epps - Actor

Patti LaBelle - Singer, Songwriter, Actress

Paula Zahn - Newscaster

Phylicia Rashad - Actress

Rebecca Romijn - Actress, Model

Ricky Martin - Singer

Robin Givens - Actress

Rosie Perez - Actress, Dancer, Choreographer

S. Epatha Merkerson - Actress

Salma Hayek - Actress, Director, Producer

Sally Field - Actress, Producer, Director, Screenwriter

Sam Jones III - Actor

Scarlett Johansson - Actress, Singer-songwriter

Sherri Shepherd - Television Hostess, Actress, Comedienne

Steve Buscemi - Actor, Director

Stockard Channing - Actress

Susan Sarandon - Actress

Teresa Weatherspoon - Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA (Retired), Coach of Louisiana Tech Women's Basketball

Tom Arnold - Actor

Tony Hawk - Skateboarder

U.S. National Women's Soccer Team

Vivica A. Fox - Actress

Washington Mystics

Whoopi Goldberg - Television Hostess, Actress, Comedienne

Wynton Marsalis - Musician

Zoe Saldana - Actress

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice