The Allstate Foundation's Purple Purse Challenge

In our lives, we come across many people. The people in our families, our friends that we meet along the way, and the many strangers we pass by each and every day. The thing is, there are many out there, who we may know or have passed by as we go about our daily lives, who are dealing with issues that they are too scared to discuss, or ask help for. Most do not think about that friend who does not talk to her friends anymore, or that woman in the checkout line, staring at the ground, not making eye contact with sun glasses on while indoors. We tend to overlook these people, not questioning why that friend is no longer talking to family and friends, or asking why that lady at the store, is standing there with her sun glasses on.

As a friend, family member, or even a concerned stranger, there are questions that can be asked, there are things that can be said and done, to let that person know, that they are not alone, and that they can get help. Many do not know, how to start the discussion on the issue of domestic violence, or know what can be done, but by simply being a friend, offering to help that friend, the sister, or even that perfect stranger, can make all of the difference and even save a life from further violence or even death from the result of domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a very real issue, it affects more people than many think. The fact is, domestic violence affects 1 in 4 women in their lifetime, which is more than breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer combined. Also, when people think of domestic violence, and they think of the signs of abuse, they think of physical violence, but domestic violence does not just mean physical abuse, there can be emotional abuse, and even financial abuse, which is what they find in 98% of all cases of domestic violence, and is also seen as one of the most powerful ways to control a survivor.

Well to help raise awareness and help those who feel stuck, who need the help, the Allstate Foundation is once again running the Purple Purse challenge. By making it fashionable to discuss domestic violence and the financial abuse that traps women in abusive situations with the Purple Purse Charm and the Purple Purse Challenge to raise money to support over 140 non profits which are national, state and local domestic violence organizations.

The money raised in the challenge will go to support local non profits, and now through October 3rd, you can help by raising awareness and donating. The Allstate Foundation also has 80,000 purple purse tassels, which you can attach to your purse to raise awareness and show your support. Along with the tassels, you also get a removable card with the stories of 5 survivors on them. Also, to help bring even more awareness, actress Kerry Washington, is the Purple Purse Ambassador of 2014, and has designed a special edition Purple Purse, which will also be distributed to raise awareness.

You can find out more about what you can do to raise awareness, raise money for your local non-profits, and find help for those in a domestic violence situation by heading to the Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse site!

Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign with The Allstate Foundation and MomSelect. All thoughts and opinions are my own.