Wellspring to Participate in 2016 Allstate Purple Purse Challenge
October is domestic violence awareness month. In Saratoga County, domestic violence is the #1 cause of family homelessness, the 2nd most prosecuted violent crime, and the #1 cause of homicide. For 35 years, Wellspring has been providing crisis intervention and support services, as well as community programming and prevention education. Now, with the help of a national challenge, Wellspring hopes to be able to make their services even more robust and accessible.
Beginning on Wednesday, September 28, 2016, Wellspring will take part in a month-long fundraising campaign as part of the 2016 Purple Purse Challenge, a month-long fundraising competition for charities benefiting domestic violence survivors compete to raise the most money with the top teams winning grand prize cash donations totaling $325,000 from The Allstate Foundation. The Challenge, an annual competition hosted on CrowdRise, is a public fundraising and awareness campaign that Challenge provides an opportunity for organizations that support domestic violence survivors to increase their donor base and push for vital funds as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
This is the first time Wellspring has competed in the Challenge, which last year raised nearly $3.1 million for 161 domestic violence organizations throughout the United States.
Wellspring executive director Maggie Fronk said, “This challenge represents an extraordinary opportunity for our supporters to work together for a common cause—to end relationship and sexual abuse in our community. The great thing about this challenge is that one-hundred percent of the proceeds come to Wellspring, no strings attached. This means that every gift will support the needs of our clients and our work to end relationship and sexual abuse in our community by providing things such as: shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, youth prevention programs, and social change initiatives.”
She added, “For anyone who would like to help Wellspring during the challenge, there are a number of opportunities. First, visiting our Purple Purse page on September 28, 2016, and making a gift will help Wellspring start out strong—every gift matters, big or small. Second, Wellspring is looking for volunteers to help raise money for the campaign. People interested in fundraising for the challenge can sign up at https://www.crowdrise.com/DomesticViolenceServices-PurplePurse2016/. Other ways to support the Wellspring and the challenge include spreading raising awareness about Wellspring and the challenge via social media and email, through a social outing, and organizing a ‘dress-down’ Friday, or a dining out night to raise money and awareness.
In order to count toward an organization’s total, donations must be received by Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. ET. Along with $115,000 in weekly bonus challenges, the organization in each division that raises the most money will receive a $100,000 grant; second place will receive $50,000; third place will win $25,000; fourth place earns $20,000; and fifth place will get $15,000.
The Purple Purse Challenge is part of The Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse program, which aims to help end domestic violence and financial abuse through financial empowerment. In its 12th year, Allstate Foundation Purple Purse has propelled more than 800,000 victims on the path to safety and security, and has invested more than $50 million to empower women to break free from abuse through life-changing financial education, job training, readiness, and small business programs for survivors. Locally, Wellspring also offers a financial literacy-training program in conjunction with Soroptomist International of Saratoga County, ‘Project Hope & Power.’
About Wellspring
At Wellspring, our mission is to support survivors and engage our community to end relationship and sexual abuse. Each year, our crisis intervention and survivor services support more than 1,000 clients—providing safe housing to adults and children either fleeing or homeless because of domestic violence, as well as comprehensive support in the form of counseling, legal advocacy, and case management. While helping victims in need is a major focus of the Agency’s mission, we know that by increasing awareness we can end intimate partner violence. Wellspring staff provides prevention and education programs to school-aged youth, as well as training and education programs for parents, faith based congregations, and professional organizations.
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). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
ABOUT CROWDRISE CrowdRise is the world’s largest and fastest growing online platform dedicated exclusively to charitable fundraising. CrowdRise is used by millions of individuals, tens of thousands of charities, hundreds of companies and many of the most famous artists and athletes in the world to creatively leverage their resources and networks to unlock the power of the crowd to support positive social missions and create massive impact.
Founded by actor Edward Norton, film producer Shauna Robertson and Robert and Jeffrey Wolfe, CrowdRise has conceived, implemented and powered campaigns that have raised hundreds of millions dollars to date. For more information visit CrowdRise.