Financial Empowerment Grants Aid Survivors of Domestic Violence
November 20 2009 - 10:08AM
PR Newswire (US)
The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program Awards $625,000
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In the face of
today's economic crisis and skyrocketing jobless rates, The
Allstate Foundation is stepping up efforts to ease the financial
burdens of domestic violence survivors with $625,000 in new
economic empowerment grants for statewide coalitions against
domestic violence in eleven states. The grants will be used to
support a variety of local programs focused on developing
strategies to move survivors of abuse toward financial
independence. The grantees' work will center on financial literacy,
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and job readiness
activities. "People often think of the physical bruises associated
with domestic violence, but the financial devastation that results
from an abusive relationship can also be especially crippling,"
said Jennifer Kuhn, Program Manager with The Allstate Foundation.
"Our goal is to work with advocates through statewide and local
initiatives, to help survivors build financial skills which are
critical during these financially turbulent times." The Allstate
Foundation's Economics Against Abuse program has provided more than
$12 million in funding to national and state domestic violence
organizations since its launch in 2005. "Our partnership with The
Allstate Foundation has been instrumental in helping survivors
achieve financial independence, " said Sue Else, President of the
National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). "The Allstate
Foundation has provided critical resources and financial support to
create innovative programs that directly help victims overcome the
tough economic challenges of beginning a new life, free from
abuse." In addition to efforts by The Allstate Foundation and
NNEDV, FICO, a leading proponent of consumer credit empowerment,
has stepped in to provide support for survivors to help them
surmount the financial hurdles often encountered when leaving
abusive relationships. FICO is donating 500 free FICO scores for
survivors involved with the Economic Empowerment Grant Program. The
FICO credit score is a snapshot of how lenders view consumer credit
profiles; the higher the score, the lower the risk to lenders.
Tools such as FICO scores and financial education lessen the
initial fear of being out on one's own and maintaining a certain
level of care for the survivor's family. Part of moving beyond an
abusive relationship involves declaring financial
independence--which means establishing one's own, independent
credit history," said Shon Dellinger, vice president of consumer
services for FICO. "In addition to their FICO scores, which provide
a snapshot of that history, survivors will learn about the factors
impacting their credit profiles and information to understand their
FICO scores from our award-winning credit resource, myFICO.com.
Understanding this information is the ticket to more favorable
terms on credit cards, automobile loans, and mortgages--elements of
financial success for survivors and their families." Domestic
violence survivors often face significant financial barriers
stemming from abuse. These problems are heightened in times of
economic downturn, making it increasingly difficult to escape
abusive relationships. Many survivors are prohibited from entering
the workforce or pursuing a higher education and job training
activities because of their abusers. Abusers often use financial
control to keep victims in abusive relationships, including
destroying a victim's credit score or running up high debts. The 11
new economic empowerment grants were awarded to the following
statewide coalitions against domestic violence, to enhance already
existing economic empowerment programs or build new ones throughout
their respective states: Alabama Coalition Against Domestic
Violence awarded $50,000 Delaware Coalition Against Domestic
Violence awarded $50,000 Florida Coalition Against Domestic
Violence awarded $75,000 Illinois Coalition Against Domestic
Violence awarded $25,000 Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and
Domestic Violence awarded $52,000 Kentucky Domestic Violence
Association awarded $90,000 New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women
awarded $50,000 Ohio Domestic Violence Network awarded $50,000
Texas Council on Family Violence awarded $50,000 Vermont Network
Against Domestic and Sexual Violence awarded $63,000 Wisconsin
Coalition Against Domestic Violence awarded $80,000 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). Allstate and
The Allstate Foundation sponsor community initiatives to promote
"safe and vital communities;" "tolerance, inclusion, and
diversity;" and "economic empowerment." The Allstate Foundation
believes in the financial potential of every individual and in
helping America's families achieve their American dream. About the
Economics Against Abuse Program The Allstate Foundation created the
Economics Against Abuse Program to help domestic violence survivors
overcome economic challenges and lead financially independent
lives, free from abuse. Through a partnership with the National
Network to End Domestic Violence, the program provides a network of
financial resources, including a comprehensive financial
empowerment curriculum; funds direct services, including education
and job training assistance; and spreads the word on how to empower
those touched by domestic and economic abuse. For more information
and to find out how to help, visit http://www.clicktoempower.org/.
About the National Network to End Domestic Violence The National
Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, is a leading voice for domestic violence victims and
their allies. Its members include the 56 state and territorial
coalitions against domestic violence. It works closely with them to
understand the needs of domestic violence victims and service
providers. NNEDV has been a premiere national organization
advancing the movement against domestic violence for the past 15
years, after leading efforts among domestic violence experts and
survivors in urging Congress to pass the landmark Violence Against
Women Act of 1994. To learn more about NNEDV, please visit
http://www.nnedv.org/. About FICO FICO (NYSE:FICO) transforms
business by making every decision count. FICO's Decision Management
solutions combine trusted advice, world-class analytics and
innovative applications to give organizations the power to
automate, improve and connect decisions across their business.
Clients in 80 countries work with FICO to increase customer loyalty
and profitability, cut fraud losses, manage credit risk, meet
regulatory and competitive demands, and rapidly build market share.
FICO also helps millions of individuals manage their credit health
through the http://www.myfico.com/ website. DATASOURCE: Allstate
CONTACT: Kyle Donash of The Allstate Foundation, +1-847-402-7893
Web Site: http://myallstatefinancial.com/ http://www.myfico.com/
http://www.clicktoempower.org/
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