Contact:           

Lindsay Hansen                                        

Catholic Charities                      

(480) 205-6195                          

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Oct. 6, 2008) – Catholic Charities’ My Sisters’ Place has been chosen to receive one of 150 grants awarded by a leading national anti-domestic violence organization, the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (MKACF).  The $20,000 grant will be used to help support the PAVE – Preventing Abuse and Violence through Education program. 

On the eve of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, shelters are feeling the impact of a weak economy.  According to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, shelter donations are down, but the need for services is increasing.  To help make sure needs are met, the foundation started by the late Mary Kay Ash is donating a total of $3 million in grants to shelters in all 50 states.

“This grant gives us much-needed cash and hope at Catholic Charities,” said Yvonne Taylor, director of domestic violence programs.  “The problem of domestic violence in Maricopa County isn’t going away and neither is the need for funding.  Programs to help battered women and their children require a lot of resources.  We’re grateful that the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation is stepping up to the plate in helping us.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), domestic violence affects 1 in every 4 women in the United States.  Nationally:

• The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, 4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services;

• Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults;

• 84 percent of spousal abuse victims are female.

The statistics in Arizona are just as startling.  According to the NCADV:

• One forcible rape occurs every four hours and 35 minutes;

• 1,909 forcible rapes were reported in Arizona in 2006.  Forcible rape accounted for 6.2% of violent crime;

• 11% of these forcible rape offenders were arrested.

“My Sisters’ Place and the PAVE program have helped so many women and their families in Maricopa County.  We know they will use these funds to benefit even more domestic violence survivors and their children,” said Jennifer Cook, MKACF board member.  “Mary Kay Ash wanted her foundation to help enrich women’s lives.  All the tragic stories and statistics we hear about domestic violence, encourages us to do our part.  We know Catholic Charities’ My Sisters’ Place and the PAVE program will use these funds to stop domestic violence and continue providing help and hope to battered women and children in Arizona.”

About the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation

The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation was created in 1996 and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue.  Since the Foundation’s inception, it has awarded nearly $18 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence and $10.8 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States.  To learn more about the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, log on to www.mkach.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).

About Catholic Charities

Founded in 1933, Catholic Charities Community Services is one of Arizona’s oldest and largest nonprofit organizations which offers a diverse range of social services that strengthen families, protect and nurture children, and support people in crisis.  Catholic Charities serves people of all ages and faiths.  Last year, the charitable organization provided over 50 programs at 100 locations to more than 200,000 people in central and northern Arizona.  Catholic Charities is a member organization of Catholic Charities USA which is the largest private network of social service organizations in the United States working to support families, reduce poverty, and build communities.  The organization is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Children and Family Services.  To learn more about Catholic Charities visit CatholicCharitiesAZ.org.

# # #