The Mary Kay Foundation℠ is awarding $20,000 grants to 150 domestic violence shelters across the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam for a total of $3 million. Stand Strong, formerly the Women’s Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County, was chosen to receive one of the annual grants to further the organization’s efforts to combat domestic violence and provide rehabilitation services throughout San Luis Obispo County. This year’s highly sought-after grant slate brings the total investment in The Foundation’s annual shelter grant program to nearly $42 million.
“At Stand Strong, we are incredibly grateful for support from The Mary Kay Foundation℠ and its continued commitment to break the cycle of domestic violence,” said Executive Director, Kirsten Rambo. “With these generous funds, we will continue to make a real difference in the lives of people who need our services to stay safe every day.”
For almost four decades, Stand Strong has managed a Safe House facility to provide crisis support, emergency housing and comprehensive services to domestic violence survivors and their endangered children, thus protecting them from immediate danger in their own homes. In 2017, 44 adults and 58 children stayed in their Safe House for a total of 4,146 bed nights.
“More than 700 domestic violence shelters nationwide applied for The Mary Kay Foundation℠ shelter grants this year, which demonstrates the overwhelming need to maintain critical services and provide a safe haven for the survivors of an epidemic that impacts one in every four women,” said Anne Crews, board member of The Mary Kay Foundation℠ and Vice President of Public Affairs for Mary Kay Inc. “Working to prevent and end domestic violence is a cornerstone of The Foundation, Mary Kay Inc. and for countless members of our independent sales force. Since 2000, The Foundation has invested tens of millions of dollars in our shelter grant program and without a doubt, we know these funds make a difference in homes and communities across the country.”
Mary Kay Inc.’s global cause-related program, Beauty that Counts, helps support The Foundation’s annual shelter grant program. Applications for the 2018 shelter grant program will be available January 15 through April 30. Please visit marykayfoundation.org for additional information and for the full list of 2017 shelter grant recipients.
About The Mary Kay Foundation℠
The Mary Kay Foundation℠ was created in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. The Mary Kay Foundation℠ has awarded $70.7 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about The Mary Kay Foundation℠, please visit www.marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).
About Stand Strong
For 39 years, Stand Strong, formerly the Women’s Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County, has been committed to recognizing and responding to the community’s need for comprehensive multicultural domestic violence services, with an understanding that domestic violence and child abuse impact primary victims, family members, society, and future generations. With this in mind, Stand Strong upholds its goal to stop the cycle of violence through providing crisis intervention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, advocacy, treatment, prevention, and education.