Help Me Pick!

First things first, I thought you all might like to see the letter I received from RAINN last week: Dear Elizabeth (and all of YOU because you voted/sponsored in June and July), Thank you for your recent contribution […] Your support makes it possible for RAINN to provide critical services to victims of sexual violence. Since 1994, RAINN has touched the lives of millions of Americans. The National Sexual Assault Hotline has provided free, confidential support to more than 1.4 million Americans, and we have experienced record increases in hotline usage in recent months. Your generosity also allows us to educate over 130 million Americans each year on sexual assault prevention, prosecution and recovery; and work with policy makers to improve the criminal justice system and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. […] Sincerely, Scott Berkowitz, President and Founder.

All sponsorship funds earned here at Love is the Adventure were donated to RAINN for the months of June and July.

 

This month, all sponsorship proceeds are going to a charity that helps and protects animals but you have to help me decide which one. Click on the links below to visit each organization’s website and decide who you think we should donate to!

- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

- World Wildlife Fund

- The Humane Society of the United States

I still have some sponsor spots open! For just $4 or $6, you can promote your blog or business through Love is the Adventure AND give to a worthy cause. Click here to find out how. All ad spots run for 30 days, regardless of when you begin sponsorship.

To vote, scroll right to the sidebar and check out the current poll!

love, elizabeth

PS: Stay tuned for exciting blog news on Monday…

Help Me Decide!

Part of my decision to offer paid sponsorship opportunities on Love is the Adventure was to have a chance to not only make a difference for the growth of other bloggers, but as a potential way of giving back to communities. So here’s where you can help me…
100% of sponsorship proceeds for the month of June will be going to a non-profit. But I can’t decide which one!
Here are the choices:
RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network)
Their mission statement:

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization and was named one of "America's 100 Best Charities" by Worth magazine. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) in partnership with more than 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

Safe Horizon
Their mission statement:

Safe Horizon is the nation’s leading victim assistance organization and touches the lives of more than 250,000 affected by crime and abuse each year. Whether we are responding to child abuse, domestic violence, or other violent crimes, we help victims and their families heal and rebuild their lives.

Safe Horizon takes action by providing practical services like a new lock, 24-hour hotlines, safe shelter, and food as well as supportive services like mental health counseling. Our dedicated staff offers compassionate, expert support, helping victims find hope by offering a chance to tell their story in their own words, a guide through the criminal justice system, and a safe place to sleep.

Our services are models for programs across the country and around the world, and our staff provides critical technical assistance, education and training to service providers, government organizations, corporations and the media worldwide. Our experience for over a quarter of a century gives us a credible voice for leading change in systems, policies, and legislation. We are recognized as national leaders and are sought out as experts on violence and victimization.

Safe Horizon also raises awareness of issues of violence and abuse, and its impact on the home, the workplace, and communities. Through speaking engagements, media and online outreach, integrated public awareness campaigns, and distribution of public service materials, Safe Horizon reaches millions of people each year, educating the public and inspiring them to take action to help move victims of violence from crisis to confidence.

 

Childhelp
Their mission statement:

Childhelp is a non-profit organization whose mission is to meet the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children. Childhelp is not affiliated with Child Protective Services, any governmental agency, political party, religious denomination, or any other entity, organization or institution. Although Childhelp promotes the right of children to be free from abuse and neglect, we do not endorse or oppose any political or legislative action, or affiliate with any outside organization. Our primary purpose is to focus our efforts on advocacy, prevention, treatment and community outreach.

To vote, scroll over to the sidebar on the right and choose which organization should receive a donation from Love is the Adventure this month!
Want to sponsor for the next 30 days and have your sponsor fee apply towards one of these charities? Click here to find out how.
love, elizabeth

Sexual Violence

For those of you who don’t know, one of the things I do, besides theatre, is work as a hospital advocate and community educator. I know this is a hard thing to think about or talk about but it affects so many people, people in our lives, people that we know and love and care about. Throughout April, I’m going to highlight a few different issues around sexual and domestic violence. I want to share a few statistics with you, focus on a few myths about sexual assault, and most importantly, talk about how YOU can make a difference! I am hugely convicted about this. As bloggers, I think we have a big voice and this is an important time to use it! So I hope it’s okay if we have a conversation…

Source: google.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Here are some numbers…

1 in 6 women have experienced a sexual assault. 1 in 33 men have, too.

Someone is sexually assaulted every two minutes. More than 200,000 people a year.

More than HALF of those assaults will not be reported.

97% of rapists will not spend a day in prison for their crime.

Again, I know this is not easy stuff to think about or talk about. But I hope this month, we’ll try. I encourage you to find out more. Visit RAINN for more information and statistics or for ways to get involved in your community.

If you or someone you know needs help or has questions, you can call the free, confidential 24/7 National Sexual Assault Hotline and speak with a trained advocate. They can talk with you about anything or they can direct you to your local hotline, as well.

1-800-656-HOPE

Please feel free to email me or leave a comment if you have questions or thoughts about this issue. I would really love to hear from you.

love, elizabeth

Help End Sexual Violence in Your Community: DONATE

“May the stars carry your sadness away…”
- Chief Dan George

Photo credit
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and in honor of that, I thought I’d share 5 ideas this month for fighting back against sexual violence. Here’s the first one.
Donate!

There are tons of local and national organizations that desperately need resources to continue doing what they do. These organizations provide 24-hour hotlines, hospital advocacy, counseling and support groups, community/school education and prevention, and much more! Government funding of these programs is constantly being cut and many crisis centers are fighting to keep their doors open and their staff paid. Most centers accept online donations (which are tax-deductible). Donate locally or visit RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) to donate to what Worth Magazine deems one of “America’s 100 Best Charities.”
You can also buy great gifts for friends and family that support RAINN by clicking HERE.

And they don’t just need money! Contact your local domestic violence shelter or rape crisis center to find about donating things like:

• Old cell phones that can be converted into emergency phones. These phones will only dial 9-1-1 and the survivor or at-risk person will not be charged any fee.
• Gently-used clothing/bedding – many shelters have beds for survivors of abuse but are running out of things like pillows and blankets.
• Hygiene products like shampoo, toothpaste, new underwear and socks – in hospital situations, survivors are often asked to give up their clothing as part of evidence collection.

Thanks for reading this! Oh, and just so you know, I’m not paid by any of these organizations, including RAINN so this isn’t an advertisement so much as a hope that you might find a few minutes to visit a website and consider donating to a worthy cause!

Stay tuned for more ideas for ending sexual violence in YOUR world…

Much love,

Elizabeth

Photo credit