Courtney’s Causes
www.survive2thrivefoundation.org
We begin with the scenario…
The battered person finally makes the difficult decision to leave his or her abuser and seek the assistance of their local emergency shelter. This quick decision not only puts battered people in physical danger of retribution of their abusers, but often causes them to lose their jobs, give up their homes, involuntarily remove their children from their schools, and disconnect from their circles of friends and their families. Survivors often involuntarily have to make the split-second decision to pack up what they can carry and go to a local emergency shelter because it is literally a matter of life and death.
According to the “Violence Against Women, A Majority Staff Report,” by the Committee on the Judiciary, domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined. The FBI also reports that one woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States.
After having to make this decision to leave, survivors are often greeted by the frightening realization that the shelter from which they are seeking refuge is full and cannot take them and their children in because there are no vacancies at which time they are placed on a waiting list. Shelters often provide hotel stays and other resources to get survivors out of immediate danger, but the fact remains…this is a temporary solution, at best. Panic sets in. What does a battered person do when they cannot get into shelter? The correct decision was made to escape and they now face homelessness, joblessness and they are still in danger of continued and even escalated violence.
The Problem
Emergency shelters for battered persons across the country are at full capacity. Financial funding for these shelters are at an all-time low because once consistent funding sources drying up due to the current economic climate. Conversely, the need for emergency shelters and the services they provide is growing and shelters are having to cutt valuable programming and access to resources to help their clients just to keep their doors open.
To add to the stress of overcrowding, many survivors of domestic violence have sought emergency shelter services more than once and are pulling on these already-strained resources even further.
Our Mission
Survive2Thrive’s mission is to empower families to successfully move forward into their new lives self-sufficiently without domestic violence.
Our Goals
The Survive2Thrive Foundation has two very important goals:
+ To give much needed relief to emergency shelters across the country through an interactive website connecting survivors with resources, inspiration, support, and counseling services.
+ To help survivors of domestic violence shift the paradigm to know they are worthy of true love, companionship, and friendship and grow from survival mode into truly thriving in a new reality without violence.
Our Dream
Our vision is that this Foundation will grow exponentially and we will be able to create this same resource for survivors in other cities across the country in the next five years.
We wish to give survivors the opportunity to explore other cities with new opportunities through the Survive2Thrive Foundation Website, as well as list resources available to them. Removing the barriers of distance and burden, we wish to reconnect survivors with their families and friends with whom they may have lost touch during their abuse.
Our Method
Survive2Thrive will create an aftercare support system through our interactive website for the survivors of domestic violence leaving emergency shelters. We are compiling a robust repository of resources for survivors to use to build their new realities. See the following video to see the vision of Courtney and her Peer to Peer Survivor Board!
Survive2Thrive Foundation Survivor Board share stories of hope!
HOW YOU CAN HELP US REACH OUR MISSION!
DONATE!
We have a goal to raise $135,000 to cover the costs to build and operate the Survive2Thrive Foundation website, to continue augmenting the resource repository, to continue fundraising activities, and provide financial scholarships for families in need over the next year.
You can give in three ways:
1) You can send your tax-deductible gift via mail: The Survive2Thrive Foundation P.O. Box 118 McNeil, Texas 78651
2) You can also give online at www.survive2thrivefoundation.org.
3) Please call 512.258.0991 to set up a monthly giving contribution.
ADVOCATE!
Talk about Survive2Thrive Foundation to anyone who will listen. We live in an age of instant information. Commit to sending this information to 20-30 of your friends and/or host an event of your own about how you can make a difference.
HOST A SMALL SPECIAL EVENT!
JOIN US by hosting a Survive2Thrive event and create an environment of giving, conversation and support. This can be a fun way to share this important cause with your friends, family, and coworkers. We will assist you in organizing and implementing a great networking event . Give us a date and a place, and our team will help it thrive! Email us at info@survive2thrivefoundation.org to set a planning meeting!
