When she’s not wowing fans on the small screen in her hit ABC series “Scandal,” Kerry Washington is standing up against domestic violence.
The actress recently announced that she is joining forces with Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse campaign as an ambassador for the third year in a row.
Founded in 2005, Purple Purse has helped more than 800,000 victims escape abusive relationships by empowering them to take charge of their finances. This is all achieved through education.
During an interview with People magazine, Washington said,”For me, it’s just such an ideal partnership, because selfishly I just participate and work in areas that are very important to me, meaning both fashion and supporting women’s empowerment.”
The Purple Purse 2016 anti-domestic violence initiative introduces the #FreetoWalk campaign, which calls “attention to the barriers that keep women trapped in abusive relationships,” according to the foundation.
As an ambassador, Kerry will design a special purse for the foundation, which will be auctioned off. All proceeds go directly to the campaign.
Many women in abusive relationships can’t “just leave.”
Watch. Learn. Donate. https://t.co/VHkGkvVIWp#Kerry4PurplePurse
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) June 15, 2016
“The goal is to really end the cycle of abuse so that… the choice to have a Purple Purse is solely aesthetic and not about making a difference and changing lives through fashion,” Kerry said.
Kerry continued, “Financial abuse is such an invisible weapon,” says Washington. “It’s not something we think of. We can see black eyes and we can see bruising and I think, we think a lot about the emotional abuse, and all of those things are valid, but to know that financial abuse is the number one reason why women stay and why they can’t walk away – it matters so much to be able to do something about that because it unlocks the solutions in the other areas as well.”
The #FreetoWalk campaign is inspired by a Michigan woman who was a victim of financial abuse and survived.
“By helping survivors understand the importance of financial self-sufficiency and helping them get the financial resources they need, we help survivors take steps toward financial independence and lives free from abuse,” said Vicky Dinges, senior vice president, Corporate Responsibility, Allstate Insurance Company.
Learn more about this initiative at the Purple Purse’s homepage.
Photo Credit: Creative Commons