Passing the Purple Purse to End Domestic Violence

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of AllState.  All views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in any way.

Domestic violence affects one in four women in their lifetime — that’s more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined. Still, more than one-third of us have never discussed the issue. That is a lot!  Domestic violence hits close to home for me. I have shared quite a bit about myself and my family on this blog but I have never shared with you my younger days.  In my 20’s (I am now 40) I was physically and mentally abused  in a ex-relationship.  Over the course of 4 years I was hit, punched, spat upon and verbally abused until one day I had enough. I was embarrassed and ashamed but thankfully that part of my life is long behind me know.   No one deserves to be abused whether it be physically or mentally.

 

Knowing that domestic violence can be a difficult subject to talk about, Purplepurse.com was created to get people talking. This site has everything you need to start the conversation and encourage your friends and family to do the same. I wish this web-site was around when I was experiencing this over 20 years ago. Instead I kept  what I was dealing with to myself . While physical abuse is the type of domestic violence most people hear about, financial abuse (using finances as a tool of power and control) happen just as frequently. Sadly, three out of four Americans fail to connect domestic violence with financial abuse. Research shows that the number one reason victims remain in relationships with their abusers is that they lack the financial knowledge and resources they need to break free.

That’s why The Allstate Foundation is taking action. With the expertise that comes from being the corporate foundation of a financial services company, their Domestic Violence Program helps provide both supporters and the survivors themselves with the financial knowledge, skills and resources they need to help get safe, stay safe and thrive.

 

When I left the relationship I was in I left with quite a bit of debt but I did not care at the time because I knew if I didn’t leave it would have escalated even more than it already had. Now looking back years later I wish I had the financial advise that The Allstate Fountain offers.  If I had some sounds advise maybe I wouldn’t have been paying off debt that was accumulated over the course of the relationship.

October is  Domestic Violence Awareness Month, The Allstate Foundation is sending more than 1,000 purses carrying domestic violence information throughout the country. Purses will be passed between co-workers, friends, and family, sparking important conversations along the way. You can even pass a virtual purple purse by logging onto Facebook.com/PurplePurse or www.purplepurse.com. (A Spanish-language site is available at www.bolsomorado.com.)  For every purple purse passed through or each time a virtual purple purse is shared or re-shared though October, The Allstate Foundation will donate $5 to YWCA.

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of AllState.  All views and opinions are of my own and were not influenced in any way. Thank you to AllState and their PR Company for the opportunity.    Mama to 5 Blessings is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.