Abilene Domestic Violence Survivor Gets Her GED and is Starting College Courses Thanks to the Noah Project and the Allstate Foundation
Abilene, Texas – The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) thanks Noah Project of Abilene and Allstate for their efforts to combat domestic violence. Noah Project and Allstate are leaders in a groundbreaking project with the Texas Council on Family Violence that is working to prioritize and forge solutions related to family violence. The Allstate Foundation has given 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. We are proud to partner with organizations, like the Noah Project, to help provide financial empowerment services to survivors of domestic violence,” Jay Hansen, the Allstate Foundation.
People like Graciela of Abilene. Graciela escaped an abusive relationship and sought help at Noah’s Project. With the help of the Allstate matching grant she was able to get her GED and is working to take college classes. Graciela says, “My husband kept me from learning English and would not let me go to school to better myself. The Allstate grant allowed me to take the GED in Spanish and I received one of the highest scores ever taken. I am now learning how to speak English better and I am saving money and studying to go to college one day.”
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. Most 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. 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.
“We want everyone who lives in our area to know we are here to help anyone who is in a domestic violence situation,” said Leigh Ann Fry, Executive Director of Noah Project. “We provide shelter, counseling, case management, legal advocacy, safety planning and career assistance. All services are provided at no cost.” But, we are also honored to be able to offer something new and exceptional to our clients, a match program where the Allstate Foundation will match dollars saved up to $500 dollars. Often, victims of domestic violence need something small to get them back on their feet and reach their goal.”
The holidays are a time for reflection and gratitude. Today, we reflect on the large numbers of Texas families who will spend Christmas in domestic violence shelters across the state. Over the past year, 223,000 Texans called domestic violence hotlines, nearly 80,000 people, primarily women and children sought services from family violence programs, because they did not feel safe in their own homes and 119 women lost their lives along with 17 additional family members, friends and bystanders in domestic violence homicides.
“The holiday season is a time for reflection on the pain caused by family violence,” said Gloria A. Terry, CEO of the Texas Council on Family Violence. “We salute Noah Project and the Allstate Foundation and thank them for not only strengthening the response and services to families in crisis, but for inspiring hope for a safer, more peaceful Texas.”
Texas Council on Family Violence is the only 501(c) 3 nonprofit coalition in Texas dedicated solely to creating safer communities and freedom from family violence. With a state-wide reach and direct local impact, TCFV, with the collective strength of more than 1000 members, shapes public policy, equips service providers, and initiates strategic prevention efforts. Visit us online at http://www.tcfv.org/
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.
About Noah Project For over 30 years Noah Project has served victims of domestic violence. We are here to help. Victims of family violence should call the Women’s Center of East Texas at 1- 800-444-3551. You can also go to our website for more information. http://noahproject.org/index.html Noah Project serves the following ten counties of West Central Texas: Callahan, Eastland, Haskell, Knox, Jones, Shackelford, Stonewall, Stephens, Taylor, and Throckmorton. ”¨”¨