The Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County
For Immediate Release: September 30, 2021
The Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County ‘Paints the Town Purple’ for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Community Partners Unite to Shine a Light on DV and Support Survivors
(Media, PA) In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County (DAP) is ‘Painting the Town Purple’ (PTTP) throughout the month of October. Several awareness and educational events are planned with the intention of inviting community members to take action, prevent domestic violence and support survivors.
“We are excited to be hosting three vigils this month in Media on October 2nd, Chester City on October 16th, and Upper Darby on October 27th. DAP has office locations in two of these locations and we are honored to host these events to remind Delaware County that DAP is available in the community to support victims where they are,” says director of programs, Nicole Ramspacher.
Survivor Saturday will take place at the Media Courthouse on October 2nd from 2pm-4pm and will serve as a celebration for survivors of domestic violence. The event will include children’s games, music, performances, various tables with community resources and featured speaker District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. The event is sponsored by Schoenfeld, Surkin, Demis Law Firm and Crozer Health.
“DAP is looking forward to leveraging Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October as an opportunity to increase awareness of the dangerous dynamics of domestic violence and its pervasive prevalence,” said DAP’s executive director, Julie Avalos. “We will be partnering with several municipalities to host vigils throughout Delaware County, working in collaboration with businesses to share our life saving resources, and providing a platform for survivors to share their journeys of resilience and recovery,” said Avalos.
One in four women and one in seven men in America will experience domestic violence in their lifetime[i] The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime. In fact, one in 15 children[ii] are exposed to domestic violence each year, and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence. In 2020, 109 victims died from domestic violence in Pennsylvania.[iii]
“Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an exciting opportunity to remind the community that DAP is here and available to support victims and survivors of Delaware County,” says Ramspacher. “Often times, domestic violence is not talked about or is kept behind closed doors, we are excited to shine a light on this issue and strengthen our community’s awareness of available resources.”
If you or someone you know are experiencing abuse and need resources, you can call the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County’s 24/7 crisis hotline at 610-565-4590.
Contact: Jymere Stillis-Stanford
Jstillis-stanford@dapdc.org
Communications Associate
Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County
610-565-9911
[i] http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs_report2010-a.pdf
[ii] https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/232272.pdf
[iii] https://www.pcadv.org/about-abuse/domestic-violence-statistics/
