Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign is a Success

Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center held a press conference on November 17 to announce the results of a month-long collection drive to benefit survivors of domestic violence. The drive, held in partnership with Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano and local women’s shelters, started in October and coincided with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Toiletries and school supplies were collected.

“This is our 14th year that we are hosting the necessities drive. We believe in increasing awareness around violence within our communities, especially since family violence is a cycle that affects thousands of victims and their families each year,” says Maggie Pierce, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center. “As a healthcare provider, we see first-hand the physical and emotional impacts that violence and abuse brings upon its victims.”

“In addition to bringing awareness to domestic violence, this collection campaign enables others to donate critical resources to empower the victims of domestic violence to rebuild their lives. We thank everyone who donated items to help these survivors and their families take the first steps to empowerment,” adds Pierce.

Among the speakers was Ana Estevez whose 5-year-old son, Aramazd, was killed while visiting his father during a bitter custody battle. She shared her story of abuse and how she is working to protect other children through a foundation in her son’s name.

The campaign yielded dozens of boxes of toiletries, school supplies, and other items such as diapers, toys, and books. Employees, physicians, and members from Kaiser Permanente facilities throughout the San Gabriel Valley contributed to the campaign. Items were donated to the Women’s & Children Crisis Shelter, House of Ruth, and YWCA-WINGS San Gabriel Valley, to benefit the residents of their shelters. These organizations provide services, resources, and shelter for victims of domestic violence. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park made a $1,000 donation to each of the shelters to supplement what was not collected in the drive such as new bed linens, towels, or other items that are needed to make each shelter as much of a home as possible for the victims and their families.

Another component of Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park’s Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign is a Day of Pampering, hosted at the Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education Center. Cosmetology students from Baldwin Park Adult School provided a variety of beauty services including facials, haircuts, and manicures for 18 women from our partnering domestic violence shelters.

Besides the donation collection, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park’s year-round used cell phone collection campaign in partnership with Verizon Wireless for their HopeLine Program, whether they are either refurbished or recycled. The refurbished phones are sold and Verizon Wireless uses the proceeds to fund non-profit agencies and to purchase other wireless phones for victims of domestic violence.

Photo cap 1: Press Conference participants

Photo cap 2: Ana Estevez shares her story at the press conference.

Photo cap 3: Victor Cheng, MD, Physician-in-Charge, Kaiser Permanente Diamond Bar Medical Offices, with Congresswoman Judy Chu. Dr. Cheng has been involved with campaign since it first started back in 2003.