Senator Ball Secures Additional $50,000 Grant To Combat Domestic Violence In Putnam & Westchester During 'Go Purple Month'

Mahopac, N.Y. – 10/24/2013 – Senator Greg Ball (R, C, I – Patterson) joined Ann Ellsworth, Executive Director of the Putnam/ Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center, at their headquarters in Mahopac on Thursday afternoon to present a $50,000 state grant.

The Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center provides advocacy, education and services to the community in order to create a safe, supportive environment that eliminates violence against women and children and promotes gender equality.

Each year during the month of October, the Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center runs a ‘Go Purple Campaign’ for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The campaign is spearheaded by the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) and encourages public, private and non-profit entities to raise awareness of the issue by embracing the color purple – the symbolic hue for domestic violence awareness – by shining purple lights on buildings or other structures in their community, wearing purple or sponsoring awareness events.

This $50,000 grant is in addition to the $50,000 grant that Senator Greg Ball announced last year for the resource center.

“Ann and the entire women’s resource center truly do God’s work every day to provide a safety net for the community during an increasingly tough time. Domestic violence is an epidemic that must be confronted head on and I couldn’t be happier to once again deliver this grant for their heroic efforts,” said Senator Ball. “As long as I represent Putnam and Northern Westchester, I will continue to fight to deliver for this for this phenomenal organization and all of the tremendous volunteers and employees working so hard to do so much with so little.”

“Our ‘Go Purple Campaign’ is growing larger every year and his $50,000 state grant couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Ann Ellsworth, Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center. “This grant, as well as the one we received last year, will continue to help us enhance our family court program which supports those affected by domestic violence. We are very grateful for Senator Greg Ball’s continue support of the work we do every day to protect victims of domestic violence.”

Senator Ball’s Women’s Advisory Council which is chaired by Ann Ellsworth’s made fighting domestic violence their top priority. Senator Ball sponsored and passed legislation that extends the length of stay for residents of domestic violence shelters up to 180 days, an increase of 45 days over the current regulation. With this additional time, victims of domestic violence and their families will be more likely to remain safe, look for employment and find permanent housing.