Avon Foundation for Women Announces Domestic Violence Grants

• Posted by System March 7, 2012 - Filed in Archive - 372 views
  NEW YORK, March 8, 2012 -- In honor of International Women's Day, Avon Global Ambassador & Honorary Chairman of the Avon Foundation for Women Reese Witherspoon and Avon Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung announced ten $60,000 grants to support women's domestic violence shelters and agencies from around the world. The grants are part of the $2 million Avon Global Believe Fund established in 2011 to honor the 125th anniversary of Avon Products, Inc. and to continue the company's work to end violence against women around the world. Witherspoon and Jung presented the awards to the grant recipients at the 2nd World Conference of Women's Shelters. With these new grants, Avon has made a total of 26 Global Believe Fund grants in 21 countries to support women's domestic violence shelters and agencies. The Believe Fund is part of the Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program, which has donated nearly $40 million globally to end violence against women. The Avon Foundation partnered with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) to identify and fund this international network of outstanding NGOs and help them provide critical life-saving services for victims of domestic violence and their families.

  2012 AVON BELIEVE FUND GRANT RECIPIENTS The following domestic violence programs received 2012 Believe Fund grants:

  NSW Women's Refuge Resource Centre (Australia): Women's Refuge is a network of 55 shelters for women and children escaping domestic violence and also provides resources and information for the community to improve their awareness of the issues relating to domestic violence.

  The Canadian Women's Foundation (Canada): The Canadian Women's Foundation provides programs to help end violence against women by focusing on training for healthy relationships and rebuilding lives through empowerment programs and community building. Hogar de Cristo Foundation (Chile): Hogar de Cristo Foundation provides shelters for victims of violence and this year will open a new shelter with the National Service of Women and the Police.

  Cerfami (Colombia): Cerfami works with the Medellin government to provide specialized services to victims of violence, including shelter and counseling.

  Maria Amor Foundation (Ecuador): Maria Amor Foundation provides shelter services for victims of violence at Casa Maria Amor, and develops productive and empowering projects for survivors.

  W.I.N Hellas (Greece): W.I.N HELLAS offers counseling support, specialized educational programs, shelter homes and legal counseling.

  Donne In Rete Contro la Violenza (Italy): Donne In Rete Contro la Violenza is a network of 58 antiviolence centers and women's shelters that have supported thousands of women and their children escaping violence.

  Sensiblu Foundation (Romania): Sensiblu Foundation is the only non-governmental organizations in Bucharest working to prevent domestic violence through public awareness campaigns.

  Alliance of Women (Slovakia): Alliance of Women of Slovakia monitors and translates international laws to protect women and disseminates information about legal options for victims of violence within Slovakia.

  International Women Rights Centre ? La Strada (Ukraine): La Strada - Ukraine has successfully worked on the prevention of trafficking and the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence in society since 1997.

  Also in honor of International Women's Day 2012, the Avon Foundation for Women announced a new App Challenge, called Ending Violence @ Home, in partnership with the Institute of Medicine. This competition is an invitation for domestic violence experts and technology enthusiasts to combine their talents and harness the power of technology to create mobile or online apps that will help prevent violence against women and children. Four prizes totaling $25,000 will be awarded. Registration is open from March 8 through May 31.