The Retreat Competes for $100K to Help Domestic Violence Survivors

EAST HAMPTON, NY — An organization focused on providing life-saving resources to victims of domestic violence has the chance to win $100,000 to help in its ongoing mission.

The Retreat, located in East Hampton, was chosen for the third year in a row to be part of The Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge, according to a release from the organization.

The Purple Purse Challenge is "a fundraising campaign where charities benefiting domestic violence survivors compete to raise the most money with the top team winning a grand prize cash donation of $100,000 from The Allstate Foundation," a release announcing the contest said.

Beginning on September 28, The Allstate Foundation will be donating $325,000 to organizations focused on ending domestic violence and assisting with financial independence for survivors. The organization that raises the most will receive a $100,000 donation. Second through fifth place also get large donations ranging from $15,000 to $50,000.

In order to take part in the competition, individuals can join The Retreat's team, the release said. To join, click here and then, click 'Fundraise for This Community Partner.'

For those who cannot fundraise, The Retreat has asked for donations from September 28 to October 25.

Finally, the organization has asked that supporters share information about the competition with family, friends, and colleagues, as well as on social media; the competition features weekly bonus challenges.

The statistics regarding domestic violence are staggering: According to the Purple Purse Challenge website:

• 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence in her lifetime. That’s more women than those with breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined.
• 99 percent of all cases of domestic violence include financial abuse. Victims are prevented from acquiring, using or maintaining financial resources. Without financial resources, survivors can’t “just walk away” from abuse, the site says.
• Domestic violence kills an average of three women a day and is the leading cause of injury for women ages 18-44.
• Domestic violence costs the United States economy more than $8.3 billion each year, is the leading cause of family homelessness and the single largest category of calls received by local police.
• Survivor requests for help are up, but staffing and budgets for services are down. On an average day in 2015, more than 12,000 pleas for help from victims went unmet due to lack of funding.

If you are the victim of domestic violence and need help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Patch image courtesy of The Retreat.