Comments For a Cause: Domestic Violence

commentforacause-176x300 As you may know, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Here are a few more statistics about Domestic Violence, from a 2008 CDC survey:

23.6% of women and 11.5% of men reported at least one lifetime episode of intimate-partner violence.

In households with incomes under $15,000 per year, 35.5% of women and 20.7% of men suffered violence from an intimate partner.

43% of women and 26% of men in multiracial non-Hispanic households suffered partner violence.

39% of women and 18.6% of men in American Indian/Alaska Native households suffered partner violence.

26.8% of women and 15.5% of men in white non-Hispanic households suffered partner violence.

29.2% of women and 23.3% of men in black non-Hispanic households suffered partner violence.

20.5% of women and 15.5% of men in Hispanic households suffered partner violence.

It is clear that domestic violence affects many people’s lives. In my previous post, I wrote about my experience with Domestic Violence. Now I want to take it a step further.

Through the month of October, I will donate $0.50 to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) for every comment I receive on each of my blogs (Mocha Dad, The Mocha Dad Daily, The Mocha Dad Review). If you tweet this post using #stopd0mesticviolence, I will add another $0.10 to the pot. If you make a donation of any amount to NCADV, I will add another $1.00 (make sure I know about it).

Although this cause is important to me, I cannot afford to leave the donation amount open; therefore, I will place a cap of $250.00 on it. Thank you in advance for your help and support. If we can help just one woman or child to escape an abusive relationship, this effort will be worthwhile.

Stay Strong,

P.S. – I would like to acknowledge my friend at Singing with My Heart. Her post inspired me to do more than just blog about Domestic Violence. I would also like to thank my fellow bloggers Get Off The Ground and Makes Me Wanna Holler for helping to spread awareness.

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{ 29 comments }

1 PJ Mullen October 6, 2009 at 6:22 am: This is a great idea MD. I just made a small donation to the NCADV.
2 Kimberly/Mom in the City October 6, 2009 at 7:22 am: What a great cause. Way to put your money behind your passion!
3 Houseonahillorg October 6, 2009 at 7:23 am: This is a great idea. Domestic Violence – is bad for families – thank you for making a difference.
4 Leslie October 6, 2009 at 7:29 am: Hey there… It’s Malenga from Twitter.

Love what you’re doing. I have never personally been a victim of domestic violence. However, since college, ending it has been a passion of mine. In college, I had a remarkable professor/second mom/mentor named Dr. Elizabeth Leonard. Her life’s research is concerning battered women who kill. She took me every Monday night to a support group at the California Institution for Women maximum security facility called Convicted Women Against Abuse. There I met some of the most wonderful, strong, beautiful women. Most of them were imprisoned for killing their abusers.

I learned a very profound thing from one of the women who was not much older than I. “The only difference between me and you is one bad Saturday night.”

I’ve never forgotten those words.
5 Tony October 6, 2009 at 7:33 am: Another 25 cents in the pot.
6 Arby October 6, 2009 at 8:57 am: Dude, great idea. Keep the passion. Keep up the good work.
7 Sistawithafro October 6, 2009 at 9:22 am: It’s always great to see a man especially an African-American man take issues such as these to heart and take an active stand against this level of destructive negativity.
8 Toya October 6, 2009 at 9:24 am: Domestic violence is such a sad thing that effects so many men and women in secret. That’s why I found it disturbing that so many people made light of the CB and Rihanna situation because it was no small thing for it to have reached that point. Domestic violence generally starts slow then escalates. Thank you so much for your personal efforts to raise awareness for this issue.
9 Felicia - I Complete Me October 6, 2009 at 9:28 am: Wow! This is such a great idea. Good for you for being active.
10 wanda October 6, 2009 at 10:19 am: Hi Mocha Dad, wow what a post! My mother was a victim of domestic violence and not from one husband but, two! She was a strong women with 3 children and managed to escape these men. Many women don’t have that ability, I applaud you for taking up such a noble cause! Many people don’t want to talk about this issue but, it’s real and it goes on each and everyday.

Thank you
Ms. Wanda
11 Teresha@ Marlie and Me October 6, 2009 at 10:50 am: I’ll post to that! Very admirable thing you are doing.
12 The Mother October 6, 2009 at 11:19 am: Unfortunately, more statistics show that kids who grow up in homes with domestic violence often go on to be abusers themselves. So the damage lasts for more than one generation.

Great cause–I wish you success.

I remind everyone that there are drop boxes in most cell phone stores for used cells–they dial 911 even without a carrier, so they are donated to women’s shelters to help them move out into the world with confidence.
13 LaTonya October 6, 2009 at 11:56 am: Wow! That’s great, moving people to action. I love it!
14 Michelle Lee October 6, 2009 at 1:35 pm: This is a cause close to my heart for a few reasons, I watched my mother go through several abusive reltionships and I also was in one for seven long years. I escaped with my son 10 years ago this coming January and never looked back. It’s a hard cycle to break but it’s more than worth it especially when there’s children involved.

God bless and thank you for supporting such a necessary cause!
15 XPhile1908 October 6, 2009 at 3:46 pm: Thanks for your comment. Thanks for making a difference. You rock!
16 Aimee October 6, 2009 at 4:38 pm: Great post! Thanks for speaking out and taking action for such an important cause.
17 Dee October 6, 2009 at 5:03 pm: What a great thing you are doing. I was not aware October was also Domestic Violence Month–glad I stopped by. Thanks for bringing this to light and making a difference. I applaud you.
18 Huckdoll October 6, 2009 at 9:49 pm: Good stuff, Mocha Dad. I’m happy to see this. Heather, you and are handful of others are doing some wonderous stuff thing month! I’ll comment often for the cause.
19 TeacherMommy October 7, 2009 at 10:50 am: What an excellent idea! And how awesome that you are literally putting your money where your mouth is.
20 reneamac October 7, 2009 at 11:16 pm: I appreciate both the honesty and exhortation of your previous post and the action and communal call of this one. Thank you.
21 Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D. October 8, 2009 at 6:00 am: I truly admire your commitment and heartfelt interest in making a difference. As a domestic violence survivor and psychologist advocate, I find that when people recognize the underlying dynamics and characteristics defining partner abuse, they heal and avoid involvement in subsequent abusive relationships. For resources on domestic violence dynamics and healing, visit us at http://www.preventabusiverelationships.com/ebooks.php Dr. Jeanne King, Ph.D.
22 Daenel October 9, 2009 at 7:23 am: It’s so good to see a brother taking a stand against domestic violence. Too many men out there think it’s ok to shove a woman or “put her in her place.” Thank you for caring.
23 carma October 9, 2009 at 12:08 pm: Great cause. I admire what you are doing to help out.
24 Priscilla October 9, 2009 at 2:04 pm: I cannot begin to say how wonderful it is that you are posting about this. What a great cause. Thank you
25 Tricia October 9, 2009 at 2:53 pm: Great Job. I was a victim of domestic violence and appreciate all the work you are doing to help stop the violence.
26 Kristen McD October 10, 2009 at 6:01 am: Those statistics break my heart, and frighten me.
27 Jenna October 11, 2009 at 6:12 pm: What an amazing thing you are doing!
28 Alison-Mountain Momma October 15, 2009 at 7:26 pm: Thank you.

I am a survivor and this is wonderful!
29 Rob October 15, 2009 at 8:05 pm: Thank you for keeping this topic in the forefront, and for your dedication!