The Aspire Initiative Launches as Inaugural Program of When Georgia Smiled: The Robin McGraw Revelation Foundation

Breakthrough emergency smartphone app and online curriculum available for download

News provided by

Oct 30, 2013, 04:10 ET

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --The Aspire Initiative, a domestic violence program which aims to reduce the level of intimate relationship violence in the US and instill the importance of bystander responsibility has been introduced by When Georgia Smiled founder and spokesperson Robin McGraw. McGraw, two-time New York Times bestselling author, television personality and lifelong philanthropist, proudly announced the program as the inaugural initiative of her foundation, When Georgia Smiled.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131007/LA93195LOGO)

The Aspire Initiative, which will be made available free of charge and includes a potentially-lifesaving smartphone app, was introduced Monday, October 28^th on Dr. Phil and Tuesday, October 29^th on The Doctors. Aspire News, a smartphone app available as a free download on Google Play, as well as at www.whengeorgiasmiled.org, allows the user to create pre-written text or voice messages to be sent to designated numbers (911 or other chosen contacts) with just the tap of a button. The app will be available in the iTunes Store in the coming days. The ignition of the app's "go button" also starts a recording to capture the details of the domestic violence encounter or other dangerous event underway. Aspire News is designed to appear like any other smart phone app to the untrained eye, allowing it to be downloaded and used in secret.

The Aspire Initiative also includes a robust, free curriculum designed to educate a wide range of audiences on domestic violence issues, from prevention to safe exit strategies. The curriculum provides engaging domestic violence educational materials with celebrity guests, news pulled from the headlines and interactive content such as quizzes to encourage group discussions. Offered together with the Aspire News app, this education component supports When Georgia Smiled's commitment to help prevent the behaviors characteristic of domestic violence before they start, halt habits may have already begun, and offer safe exit strategies and resources for those in need.

"The Aspire Initiative is the first step in my deeper commitment to the domestic violence space. Having worked with so many thousands of women who have found themselves in life-threatening situations, I am thrilled to offer this new resource to help women and children get help when they need it most," says McGraw. "The Aspire News app provides an invaluable, unmatched resource to provide safety to those who find themselves in danger, and our curriculum can go far in preventing dangerous patterns from emerging in the first place."

The curriculum is divided into three sections that can be taught together or separately:

Chapter 1: What's the Deal on Abuse, with tools to identify abuse in relationships
Chapter 2: Stop It Before It Starts, focused on prevention, warning signs and the importance of bystander responsibility
Chapter 3: Take Action, discussing safe exit strategies, illustrating the Aspire News, a breakthrough smartphone app designed to provide tools for those escaping abusive relationships.

This curriculum is available online at www.whengeorgiasmiled.org free of charge in both English and Spanish, to schools, youth groups, and other organizations that influence relationship conduct in age groups ranging from children and teens to adults.

An electronic press kit is available upon request.

About When Georgia Smiled

When Georgia Smiled: The Robin McGraw Revelation Foundation creates and advances programs that help women and children, especially those affected by domestic violence, live healthy, safe and joy-filled lives. For more information, visit www.whengeorgiasmiled.org.

About Robin McGraw

Robin McGraw is a bestselling author, television personality and philanthropist. She is featured daily on Dr. Phil, where she is a familiar face and friendly voice to the audience, speaking often to issues that affect women. Robin has worked for many years with a variety of philanthropic causes that serve to improve the lives of women and children. Robin is a national spokesperson for C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children), and she and Dr. Phil have devoted countless hours promoting their recruitment project that has generated over $60 million per year during the last three years, totaling more than $180 million, to date. Robin is also a board member of The Dr. Phil Foundation, and a member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. Robin has been recognized for her work in philanthropy with awards such as the Heart of Gold Award by the Starlight Starbright Foundation and the Big Heart Award by the Westside Children's Center. She is a sought after public speaker and has appeared on a variety of broadcast programs. She is the author of two #1 New York Times Best Selling books, Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose and What's Age Got To Do With It?

SOURCE When Georgia Smiled