Mary Kay Foundation Awards Safe Futures $20,000 Grant for Domestic Violence Programs

New London, CT – Safe Futures, the local domestic violence service provider for all twenty-one towns in New London County, has received a $20,000 grant from The Mary Kay FoundationSM. With October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Foundation has awarded $20,000 in grants to 150 domestic violence shelters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, for a total of $3 million.
 
While more than half of the grant recipients use the unrestricted funds for basic operating expenses, others hire much needed personnel, complete repairs and facility renovations or add programs and resources based on the unique needs of their shelter and the clients they serve.  Safe Futures will use the grant funding to provide critical support for operating its many programs.
                 
“At Safe Futures, we are incredibly grateful for support from The Mary Kay Foundationâ?  and its commitment to break the cycle of domestic violence,” said Catherine Zeiner, Executive Director. “A grant of this size for our programs is not only unusual; it also helps us provide the best services we can, where most needed.”
 
Safe Future saves lives, restores hope and changes the future for women, children and men impacted by domestic violence throughout Southeastern Connecticut. This past year, Safe Futures sheltered 166 women and children fleeing abuse in Genesis House, the emergency shelter for women and children; provided case management and support to 45 individuals in Phoenix House transitional living program; counseled 5,130 clients seeking assistance for domestic violence; and educated over 4,342 students and nearly 5,000 members of the community in strategies to both prevent and recognize domestic violence and sexual assault.  Services and shelter staffing operate 24/7/365, providing round-the-clock access to Safe Futures’ services.
 
“Mary Kay has a long-standing commitment to prevent and end domestic violence,” said Anne Crews, board member for The Mary Kay Foundationâ?  and Vice President of Public Affairs for Mary Kay Inc. “While progress has been made in the United States in meeting the needs of the thousands of domestic violence survivors who seek help each and every day, there remains a significant gap between funding and resources. We know from our work with shelter directors across the nation that the Foundation’s annual grants are a lifeline for many shelters and continue to impact an epidemic that touches one in every four women.” 
 
Local Mary Kay representatives, excited by the news that this grant was received in their home territory, have reached out to Safe Futures. At its recent Hot Cider Walk & Rally: an End to Domestic Violence, representatives from Mary Kay organized a resource table featuring information and resources from the Mary Kay Foundation. They also put together a team for the walk; team members wore tee-shirts featuring Mary Kay’s message “Don’t Look Away”. The team won the award for largest team at the event, which featured over 265 walkers working to raise awareness about the issue.
 
Since 2000, The Mary Kay Foundationâ?  has donated $35.6 million to domestic violence organizations through its annual shelter grant program. Each year, grants are awarded to at least one domestic violence shelter in every state with the remaining grants distributed based on state population. U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands have also received funding through the Shelter Grant program. Approximately 625 domestic violence shelters applied for funding this year.

About The Mary Kay Foundationâ? 
The Mary Kay Foundationâ?  was created in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue.  The Mary Kay Foundationâ?  has awarded $64.2 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States.  To learn more about The Mary Kay Foundationâ? , please visit www.marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).
 
About Safe Futures
Safe Futures, founded in 1976, operates two 24-hour hotlines, an emergency shelter and a transitional living program for families working to rebuild lives shattered by domestic violence or sexual assault.  In 2012, the agency changed its name to better reflect all its programs and everyone it serves, including men who are victims of domestic violence. Safe Futures also provides legal assistance, counseling and advocacy, case management, support groups and educational programs for schools as community groups.  All 21 towns in New London County are served by the agency.
   
Safe Futures is part of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV).  Safe Futures is also a Partner Agency of United Way and its programs are funded in part by the State of Connecticut’s Departments of Social Service, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Office of Victim Services, Judicial Branch.