We Could Win up to $100,000 — Support W.O.M.A.N., Inc. in The 2017 Purple Purse Challenge!

Friends! October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and there are many ways you can get involved to show your support for survivors. One way is by helping your local domestic violence organizations keep their programs strong by fundraising & donating. For the 3rd year in a row, W.O.M.A.N., Inc. has been selected to participate in Allstate’s Annual Purple Purse Challenge, a nationwide initiative to raise money for organizations doing the critical work to support domestic violence survivors in their communities. Last year they were able to raise a collective $3 million for domestic violence organizations across the U.S. This is an incredible, month-long fundraising opportunity and we need YOUR help to make it a success.

What is the Purple Purse Challenge exactly? 

The Purple Purse Challenge is a fundraising campaign launched by The Allstate Foundation where domestic violence organizations compete to raise the most money during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The top team wins a grand prize cash donation of $100,000 from The Allstate Foundation. There are also weekly fundraising challenges that give us opportunities to win more monetary prizes along the way. On top of all of that, we get to keep 100% of all the funds we raise in the process. Pretty dang sweet. This an awesome way, not only to fund our services, but to help raise awareness about DV & increase visibility of the work we’re doing to address it.

It starts on Monday, October 2 at 9am and ends Tuesday, October 31 at 10:59:59 p.m.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1.Join Our Team, Become a Fundraiser! 

Please consider joining our team as a fundraiser. By reaching out to your network of supporters, you can help us make an even bigger impact. And, just like last year, the person who raises the most will get to take home the Limited Edition Purple Purse designed by this year’s ambassador, Serena Williams. It takes less than five minutes to set up a fundraiser. All you have to do is Go Here and click ‘Fundraise for This Community Partner.’

Once you join the team, you have the option to personalize your page with a story and photos to illustrate why our cause is important to you. Then, when the Challenge starts on October 2nd, share it with your people and start garnering support! Just the simple act of joining our team, gives us the opportunity to qualify for the first bonus challenge.

2. Donate!

2016 W.O.M.A.N., Inc. PPC Page

If fundraising isn’t an option for you, we hope you’ll consider making a donation. We are proud of the work we do and truly couldn’t make it happen without your support. It’ll also help us with our goals during the the bonus challenges. Every donation makes a difference, no matter how big or small. When the time comes, you can select a fundraiser here on our Purple Purse page!

3. Spread the word!

We understand fundraising takes time, donating takes money and that not all of us have the capacity for that. Just taking a moment to share this on your social media platforms would be a great help! RSVP to the challenge on Facebook, share with & invite your friends here.

Thanks in advance for your participation! We’ll be updating folks about our progress through our newsletter list! Be sure to subscribe here!

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Meet a W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Volunteer: Sabrina Woon

Meet one of our volunteers, Sabrina Woon! Sabrina has been volunteering with us since July 2016 and has supported us with the W.O.M.A.N., Inc. 24-hour hotline amongst other organization functions. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and we truly could not thrive without people like Sabrina on our team. Read more about her & the anti-violence work she does with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. below:

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a woman, a friend and a mother who is strong, passionate and independent. I have two kids who keep me busy and I am also currently in school working on obtaining my esthetician license. I consider my life a work in progress as there still so much I’d love to try and do.

2) What is your role and what opportunities have you been involved with at the organization?

I am a W.O.M.A.N., Inc volunteer and I work the overnight shift on the support line once a week. I also got to guest bartend at one of the fundraisers which was really fun and I’m looking forward to being involved in even more.

3) What propelled you to volunteer with us & what motivates you to continue the anti-violence work you do?

What propelled me to volunteer with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. was my own personal upbringing and life experiences. I was determined to break the cycle of violence for my children and also find healing and forgiveness through helping others do the same. Every time I have reached a hard point in the anti-violence work I stop and think about how important it was for me to make sure my children don’t go through the same things I did and that is my biggest motivation.

What W.O.M.A.N., Inc.’s Echando Pa’lante Program Shows About Shared Power, Leadership, Relationship Building & Survivor Success

Since 1978, W.O.M.A.N., Inc. has supported survivors of domestic violence through empowerment-based, survivor-centered programming that honors the personal autonomy, power and resiliency of people impacted by violence.  These principles are guided by seeing survivors as whole people who are the experts of their own lives. We’re very proud to share with you a report on a W.O.M.A.N., Inc. program that truly captures the essence of these grassroots efforts – this program is called Echando Pa’lante (Moving Forward).

Echando Pa’lante is a survivor-led initiative co-created by women who had gone through W.O.M.A.N., Inc.’s Latinx Program (in-depth case management for monolingual Spanish speakers) and the W.O.M.A.N., Inc. team. Initially, Echando Pa’lante provided ongoing engagement and a creative, supportive space for participants post-crisis. The set-up was more open than conventional therapeutic atmospheres which allowed for community building and bonding between the folks partaking in the program. Motivated by the participants’ desire to get more involved, Echando Pa’lante evolved into a program that includes a comprehensive leadership component where the participants who’ve survived abuse and worked towards healing and recovery, are trained to be domestic violence advocates themselves. With the assistance of Montesinos & Associates, we developed an evaluation report through the lens of how survivors define success. This evaluation centers the voices of Las Pioneras (the pioneers), the first participants and steering group of Echando Pa’lante. Below, we’ll provide a brief synopsis of the results, but, when you’re done, we encourage you to read the full report here. In this evaluation, you’ll get to learn more about the inception and progression of Echando Pa’lante, and the impact of this co-created project shaped by the participants who inspired it.

Community Education Series: Supporting Friends & Family of Survivors

Domestic violence impacts all of us.

Many survivors reach out to friends and family for support before they call a domestic violence hotline, or call the police.  We all want to support someone we care about; we want to see them happy and safe. So, when someone we love is being harmed, it’s natural to feel at a loss on how to help.

As community members, we have the potential to impact change. If we can come together and offer support based on what survivors ask for, we can send a message that they are deserving of our help, that the abuse isn’t their fault, and that they shouldn’t have to suffer at the hands of someone who claims to love them. If we can ban together and support survivors, while questioning abusive behavior, we will send the overriding message that abuse doesn’t belong in our community–our circle of friends, our families, our workplaces or our homes.

Please join the W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Outreach Team at a free workshop apart of our Community Education Series. This session will focus on what we as family, friends and community members can do to support survivors of domestic violence, as well as what resources are available for all involved.
When: Wednesday, May 17 at 6:00PM
Where: SF Public Library, Bayview (5075 3rd Street)

RSVP on Facebook/Invite your friends here.
Questions? Please call Alicia at (415)969-6802

Learn more about our Education & Outreach program as well as other ways to get involved at our website: www.womaninc.org/education.

Want to support our programs? People like you are a HUGE reason we can provide our workshops regularly & free of charge. Please consider donating at www.womaninc.org/donate.

 

Dismantling & Rebuilding: Celebrating Jill Zawisza’s 20 Years of Leadership

The W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Board of Directors warmly invites you to Dismantling & Rebuilding: An Evening for Stronger, Safer Communities. We’re celebrating our Executive Director Jill Zawisza’s 20 years of leadership in the domestic violence field and her 10th anniversary with W.O.M.A.N., Inc.

When: Friday, April 28th | 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Where: Galería de la Raza | 2857 24th Street, SF

Dismantling & Rebuilding is about anti-oppression, intersectional feminism, collaboration across difference, and holding collective power. Inspired by Audre Lorde’s observation that “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house,” the event promotes stronger, safer communities rooted in intersectionality and inclusion.

About Jill:

Jill has worked as an advocate and leader in the domestic violence field for 20 years. She has dedicated 10 years to W.O.M.A.N., Inc., including five years as our Executive Director. Jill leads by building strong teams and putting people first. She’s created a powerful, resilient W.O.M.A.N., Inc. community that models our vision for the stronger, safer communities we strive to build for all survivors of domestic violence.

Join us for art, music, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction in an intimate gallery space. Meet our Board, our volunteers, and our incredible staff of seven who provide crisis line, therapeutic, and other supports to survivors of domestic violence in the Bay Area and beyond.

• Get your tickets on Eventbrite here.
• RSVP on Facebook & invite your friends here.
• Can’t make it to the event, but still want to support? Donate in lieu of attending at www.womaninc.org/donate

Support W.O.M.A.N., Inc., Get a 2017 Pet Calendar!

Friends! We are excited to let you know the calendar is now in the works & available for order! Thanks to your submissions, next year’s calendar is full of love & sweet faces. We loved hearing about the healing & pure joy your animal companions bring to your lives.

Sure to be an awesome gift for yourself and/or loved ones, you can reserve your 2017 W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Pet Calendar here. 
Owning a pet and experiencing domestic violence adds an additional layer of complexity to the situation. The abusive partner may withhold money to pay for the animal’s food and water. When attempting to leave, a survivor might be denied housing and/or shelter access because the location does not accommodate pets. We have a fund that hopes to address some of these issues. The proceeds from our pet calendar sales will go back our Pet Fund which helps with food/water costs, kennel stays and more for pets whose humans have experienced domestic violence. 

Want a calendar, but wish to make a general donation to our programs and services? Make a donation of at least $30 $15 here, and indicate in the dedication notes that you would like a pet calendar!

Sneak peek below!

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Why Pet Calendar? Follow this link to learn more. 

 

How to Participate in Domestic Violence Awareness Month This October

1. Knowledge is power! Educate yourself about healthy and unhealthy relationships.Learn about the additional barriers people from different communities face when experiencing domestic violence. Challenge traditional ideas of domestic violence & squash misconceptions. Read about how different patterns of violence intersect with one another. Spread that knowledge around!
2. Wear purple, the domestic violence awareness color. Show your support by adding some purple to your ensembles this October.
3. Donate!
   • If you’re interested in supporting W.O.M.A.N., Inc.:
     1. Allstate’s Purple Purse Challenge! We are excited to be selected to  participate in this annual event, a nation-wide fundraiser to raise awareness of financial abuse & to promote economic empowerment. We have a chance to win $100,000 and would love to garner your support in our cause. Click here to find out how you can get involved.
     2. Contribute to our Pet Fund! Anyone who donates $25+ to the Pet Fund will receive a 2017 W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Pet Calendar

• We are amongst a plethora of bay area anti-violence agencies. Find one you support, and contribute to the cause. Any little bit helps.

4.  Attend an event near you! Domestic violence agencies from all around the country will be hosting events to honor DV awareness month. Participating in one is an easy way to be apart of the movement.

5. Contact a local domestic violence agency to learn more about domestic violence and what you can do to help.

• Interested in getting involved? Check out our volunteer opportunities!
• Engage. Educate. Empower! W.O.M.A.N., Inc. is offering a free workshop on how to support survivors of domestic violence. 

6. Talk about it! Don’t be afraid to initiate conversations about domestic violence awareness. With that said, part of being a good ally is to do your best to exercise non-judgmental love and support. If someone opens up to you about their experience with abuse, actively listen and believe the survivor when they are brave enough to speak their truth. Here are some tips on disclosure to keep in mind when dealing with those experiencing domestic violence:

7. Take action on social media! The internet is FULL of stuff to get involved with. Share with your networks why you’re standing up against DV this month, start/participate in awareness campaigns (Examples: SurvivedAndPunished, NoMore, CPEDV Calendar, #SeeDV). So many ways to show your support just from your computer at home.

Remember, domestic violence is a community issue. You can have a role in ending domestic violence. Learn more about ways you can help:

• Check out the SF Department on the Status of Women’s Bystander Awareness campaign:learnwhattodo.org
• National Coalition to End Domestic Violence 
• National Network to End Domestic Violence 
• California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
• Northwest Network
• Move to End Violence
• Ways To Confront a Loved One Who is Abusing Their Partner

 

If you feel you or someone you know may be experiencing abuse, please feel free to give our support line a call at (415)864-4722. We are here for you 24/7.

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