Cherie Ansin and Kym Craven have been selected to Co-Chair the 1000 Strong Women Campaign for the Battered Women’s Resources Inc.

Leominster, MA -- October 22, 2004 The campaign is a grass roots effort to recruit 1000 Strong Women to join together to give a voice to the concern and the widespread destruction caused by domestic violence. Each woman that joins is asked to give a $100.00 donation to the agency. The funds that are raised allow the agency to increase its capacity to support women and children in the twenty-nine communities that the agency serves.

1000 Strong Women is more that just a fundraiser. Once formed, the group will be an active component of the agency’s effort to bring about the understanding that domestic violence is a complex issue that needs the voice of many community leaders.

The issue of domestic violence is one that crosses all demographic lines of a community and has a spiraling effect on those involved, especially children. The numbers are startling:

• Over 100,000 calls to the national hotline yearly
• Every 9 seconds a woman is battered
• Two to four million women are abused each year
• Between 3-10 million children witness domestic violence each year
• Every 45 seconds someone in the United States is sexually assaulted.

"Domestic violence is a curse on families and communities; it is one of the primary causes of many social problems we face in each community including alcohol and drug abuse, child abuse, homeless families, depression, suicide, juvenile delinquency, health issues and criminal behavior" said Joanne Tulonen, Executive Director of Battered Women’s Resources, Inc. "The 1000 Strong Women Campaign allows BWRI to partner with women leaders from all of the 29 cities and towns that we serve. These women leaders can, in turn, help be a voice of concern in each community."

The campaign will be hosting events throughout the region to raise awareness for the cause and reach the goal of recruiting 1000 Strong Women by April 2005. On December 2, 2004 an event will be held featuring Christine Bullard who has spent time as an advocate for women and has international experience educating members of law enforcement agencies on the issues that surround domestic violence. If you are interesting in learning more about this initiative or the campaign in general, please contact BWRI at 978-537-2306 or http://www.1000strongwomen.org.

Headquartered in Leominster, MA, BWRI has been providing services to victims of domestic violence and their children for twenty-seven years. Approximately 6000 women and children obtain services each year through BWRI. The agency offers a 24 hour hotline, 90 day emergency shelter, bi-lingual services, crisis intervention counseling, support groups, SAFEPLAN Advocates in six District Courts, a school violence prevention program and an opportunity for community members to volunteer. For further information call the main office number 978-537-2306 or the hotline at 978-537-8601.

1000 Strong Women Co-Chairs Cherie Ansin and Kym Craven display the campaign's signature T-shirt with BWRI Executive Director Joanne Tulonen

BWRI
P.O. Box 1209
Leominster, MA 01453