NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

ARIZONA COALITION TO END SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RECEIVES $25,000 GRANT FROM PETSMART CHARITIES® TO HELP KEEP PETS AND PEOPLE TOGETHER  

October 13, 2020— Phoenix, Arizona – Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence received a $25,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to help keep more survivors and pets together throughout Arizona.

As the face of family changes over the years, what remains constant is the role pets play in our lives. Many people consider pets family members and it can be challenging to find resources when facing life changes and issues such as homelessness, lack of pet-friendly housing or fleeing domestic violence in search of a safe-haven. Pet parents in these and other at-risk situations often determine they have no options beyond surrendering their beloved pet to a local shelter.

With this grant, Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence will help preserve the bond between pets and their people by offering solutions that will help pets stay within their loving homes and families. Unfortunately, up to 40% of sexual and domestic violence survivors report they delayed their decision to seek safety and services out of fear for their animals’ safety. ACESDV’s Barrier Reduction Collaborative (BaRC) project offers solutions and support for survivors with pets. The BaRC project helps remove barriers to safety for survivors through funding for pet-related expenses, such as pet rental deposits, transportation of pets, veterinary fees, and pet boarding fees. The BaRC project also provides education and support to sexual and domestic violence programs to better assist survivors with pets.

“Many survivors would no sooner leave a pet behind than a child.  By providing concrete assistance to survivors with pets, we can help smooth the path to safety for both survivors and their companion animals. Our ultimate goal is safety and support of survivors and this is a way to make that happen,” said Jenna Panas, CEO of ACESDV.

“Having a pet can provide a constant source of strength and comfort and can also add an extra layer of concern in times of uncertainty,” said Jenny Aho, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities. “We’re proud to support this work that keeps pets and people together and ensures Arizona’s pet parents never have to choose between their safety and their beloved pets.”

Since 1994, through its partnership with nearly 4,000 humane societies, SPCAs and pet rescues across North America, PetSmart Charities has helped more than 9.3 million pets to find loving homes via its in-store adoption program in over 1,600 PetSmart® stores. The leading funder of animal welfare has also donated nearly $430 million to improve access to veterinary care, to positively impact communities, to connect people and pets and to help preserve families through initiatives like this with ACESDV.

###

About the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence

The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) works to dismantle oppression and promote equity among all people, focusing on increasing public awareness about sexual and domestic violence and enhancing safety and services for survivors. ACESDV was originally founded as the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1980, so that concerned citizens and professionals could unite in a statewide organization to end domestic violence. In 2013, the coalition became the designated dual coalition to address both sexual and domestic violence in Arizona, thus becoming the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. ACESDV provides training and technical assistance to responders, service providers, and community members, engages in public policy advocacy and public awareness initiatives, and provides direct services through their Sexual and Domestic Violence Services Helpline and online chat.
www.acesdv.org

Follow ACESDV on Twitter: twitter.com/acesdv
Find ACESDV on Facebook: facebook.com/ACESDV
See ACESDV on Instagram: instagram.com/AZCESDV

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 600,000 shelter pets each year. Each year, millions of generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores.  In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting almost $430 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart Inc., PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, a third-party organization that reports on the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of nonprofits, for the past 17 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of charities rated by this organization. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Follow PetSmart Charities on Instagram: @PetSmartCharities
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

Media Contact:
Jenna Panas, CEO                                                                                                      24-Hour PetSmart Charities
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence                                  Media Line:  623-587-2177
817-939-1577
Jenna@acesdv.org

Please see below for the annual 31 facts for the 31 days of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October 2020 to share on your social media, in newsletters, etc. during the month. Please be sure to save the date for Thursday, October 22, 2020 for Wear Purple Day and use the hashtag #EndDVinAZ all month long. 

Download the 31 Facts for 31 Days of DVAM.

Please feel free to share with us any and all Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities, events and/or virtual events we can share! Please send those event or activity details to christa@acesdv.org.

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Jenna Panas, CEO
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence                                                                
817-939-1577
Jenna@acesdv.org

AZ COALITION TO END SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WELCOMES NEW CEO

Phoenix, AZ, July 31, 2020 –The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence (ACESDV) Board of Directors is pleased to announce Jenna Panas has joined ACESDV as CEO since June 8, 2020. Jenna has extensive expertise driving organizations to achieve growth and strategic focus, and they are confident that under her leadership, ACESDV will have an even greater impact on the people, program members and communities it serves.

Jenna is a seasoned leader in both nonprofit and public-sector organizations. Most recently, she served as the Program Director of the Impact Instruction program at Arizona State University’s Center for Child Well Being, where she managed the design of curriculum and online instruction options for courses in Child Welfare, Foster Youth, Literacy Support, and Childhood Trauma. She has also taught for the School of Public Affairs, with a research emphasis on critical theory, and power dynamics leading to a lack of constituency voices.

Prior to her roles in Arizona, Jenna held multiple leadership positions at non-profit organizations focusing on the welfare of women and children. She worked extensively in the fields of domestic violence, homelessness, and economic empowerment. Jenna served as” interim CEO of the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center where she helped strengthen the nonprofit by securing large-scale grants and created systems to measure outcomes and track success rates. Jenna’s leadership extends to managing a consulting firm that provides change-management training and leadership coaching to nonprofit organizations.

Jenna’s career has been dedicated to serving women and children, working to end domestic violence and sexual assault, and strengthening nonprofit organizations. She brings a tremendous amount of passion and enthusiasm to her new role.

“While the solutions for ending domestic and sexual violence are complex, Arizona has many great minds and passionate hearts working on solutions and I am delighted to be joining them in partnership. By listening to survivors and responding to their unique needs and stories, we ensure success for all. We have made tremendous strides at the Coalition over the last 40 years, it is an honor to work to extend that legacy into the future.”

ACESDV is excited to have Jenna on board and look forward to her leadership. Please join ACESDV in welcoming her to our organization.

About the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) works to dismantle oppression and promote equity among all people, focusing on increasing public awareness about sexual and domestic violence and enhancing safety and services for survivors. ACESDV was originally founded as the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1980, so that concerned citizens and professionals could unite in a statewide organization to end domestic violence. In 2013, the coalition became the designated dual coalition to address both sexual and domestic violence in Arizona, thus becoming the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. ACESDV provides training and technical assistance to responders, service providers, and community members, engages in public policy advocacy and public awareness initiatives, and provides direct services through their Sexual and Domestic Violence Services Helpline and online chat.

www.acesdv.org
Follow ACESDV on Twitter: twitter.com/acesdv
Find ACESDV on Facebook: facebook.com/ACESDV
See ACESDV on Instagram: instagram.com/AZCESDV

###

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Jenna Panas, CEO
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
817-939-1577
Jenna@acesdv.org

AZ COALITION TO END SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELEASES REPORT ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SEXUAL & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS IN ARIZONA

Phoenix, AZ, July 17, 2020 – COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the lives of survivors, their children, pets, and local victim service programs. Social distancing measures increase risk for violence in homes and limit opportunities for survivors to access help. Throughout the pandemic, sexual and domestic violence programs have remained steadfastly open, providing crucial services to survivors during a particularly precarious time.

Programs have had to make significant shifts in shelter and service provision to ensure the safety and wellbeing of survivors and staff during COVID-19. There is a critical need for additional resources to address the dramatically evolving needs of survivors during the challenging circumstances presented by the pandemic. While call volume has fluctuated, most shelters remain full, and community-based advocates have maintained large and growing caseloads.

A survey was distributed to the 29 community-based sexual and domestic violence programs in Arizona who are members of ACESDV. The survey was open through late May and early June, and was supplemented by follow-up conversations with programs through June 18th. Twenty-four programs responded to the survey. Among these programs, 50% serve a primarily rural area, 29% serve a primarily urban area, and 21% serve a combined rural and urban area.

View the Impact of COVID-19 on Sexual and Domestic Violence Programs in Arizona survey results.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the needs of sexual and domestic violence survivors already exceeded the available resources in Arizona. Victim service providers have decades of experience managing life-threatening crises with limited resources; however, COVID-19 has impacted communities in unprecedented and sustained ways. As programs adapt to meet the needs of survivors, funding is critical to sustain and hire staff, purchase new technology, identify and provide safe housing alternatives, and modify programs to ensure social distancing and adequate sanitization.

“Arizona providers have been amazing in their ability to pivot and quickly meet the needs of survivors in a stressful and constantly changing environment, however they critically need funding and donations in order to continue to do so. We hope that by identifying program needs, our community will help survivors,” stated ACESDV CEO Jenna Panas.

The community can help support programs continue providing crucial services to survivors. In response to the Impact of COVID-19 survey, ACESDV collected information from programs throughout Arizona with specific donation needs request. Many programs indicate needing PPE equipment, sanitizing supplies, gift cards to stores like Walmart and Target, as well as monetary donations. Find a program in your area to learn about what they need and how to donate. View the Sexual and Domestic Violence Programs Donations Needs document.

About the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV) works to dismantle oppression and promote equity among all people, focusing on increasing public awareness about sexual and domestic violence and enhancing safety and services for survivors. ACESDV was originally founded as the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 1980, so that concerned citizens and professionals could unite in a statewide organization to end domestic violence. In 2013, the coalition became the designated dual coalition to address both sexual and domestic violence in Arizona, thus becoming the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. ACESDV provides training and technical assistance to responders, service providers, and community members, engages in public policy advocacy and public awareness initiatives, and provides direct services through their Sexual and Domestic Violence Services Helpline and online chat.

www.acesdv.org
Follow ACESDV on Twitter: twitter.com/acesdv
Find ACESDV on Facebook: facebook.com/ACESDV
See ACESDV on Instagram: instagram.com/AZCESDV

###

We are excited to share our 30 facts for 30 days of SAAM during April and welcome you to join us as we raise awareness about sexual violence. Also a reminder to check out NSVRC’s SAAM awareness campaign materials – they always have great, inspiring, and colorful materials and ideas.

Additionally, please remember to save the upcoming dates:

April 7^th – Wear Teal Day/Day of Action (since we won’t be able to have large groups of people in photos while wearing teal, perhaps a good ol’ collage of personal selfies this year!)

April 29^th –Denim Day (another good day to make a collage of selfies!)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 MEDIA CONTACTS

Christa Lindsay, Community Engagement Manager
christa@acesdv.org
(602) 803-9149

Fiona Gwozdz, PR Director, Oliver Russell
fgwozdz@oliver.russell.com
(503) 334 -7214

 15^th Annual “Gift of Peace” Campaign by Jacksons Food Stores Calls on the Community to Help End Sexual and Domestic Violence

 “Peace Doves” Donations will Support the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence

Phoenix, AZ (November 29, 2019)

During this season of giving, now through Dec. 25, Jacksons Food Stores will match tax-deductible donations dollar-for-dollar in support of the fifteenth annual Gift of Peace campaign to help end sexual and domestic violence. Customers who donate $1, $5, or $10 will receive a paper peace dove to hang in support of survivors and help bring visibility to the campaign in Jacksons Food Stores and Jacksons-owned ExtraMile stores across six western states, including Arizona.

The annual Gift of Peace campaign has raised over $1.35 million in donations since it began in 2004. Last year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Jacksons Food Stores and its customers raised a total of $187,314 ($93,657 matched dollar-for-dollar by Jacksons) for state domestic violence coalitions in Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Utah.

Customers in Arizona showed solidarity and generosity towards domestic violence survivors by contributing $8,701 to the cause in 2018. Jacksons matched that amount to further amplify the community’s impact and support the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence (ACESDV) with a total contribution of $17,402.

“Our aim in 2019 is to encourage more donations than ever before,” said Cory Jackson, president of Jacksons Food Stores. “These funds help raise community awareness about the problem of domestic violence and provide essential resources for survivors and their children. We want to make this the most impactful year of our Peace Doves campaign yet.”

All Arizona customer contributions directly support the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence, a statewide non-profit member organization focused on education, advocacy, awareness, and increasing services along with a Helpline for sexual and domestic violence survivors and their families. According to Christa Lindsay, Community Engagement Manager for ACESDV, member organizations provide direct services ranging from emergency shelter, housing, advocacy, to counseling and other supports to survivors.

 “Jacksons Food Stores’ Gift of Peace campaign does more than raise funds – it shows survivors that their community supports them and sees the problem of sexual and domestic violence as one we all must work on together to solve,” Lindsay said. “We’re grateful to Jacksons for taking a stance on these issues and supporting us through this campaign. It shows the community that our collective impact can and does change lives.”

Customers can make a tax-deductible donation for a peace dove to support the campaign at any Arizona Jacksons Food Store or ExtraMile convenience store starting November 27 through December 25th.

###

About Jacksons Food Stores
Since John D. Jackson founded Jacksons in 1975 as a single service station, the Idaho–headquartered company has grown to be a nationally recognized chain of more than 250 company–operated convenience stores in Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Utah under the Jacksons Food Stores and ExtraMile Convenience Store brands. In addition, Jackson Energy now wholesales branded fuel to more than 900 locations throughout 9 western states.

About the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence
The Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence is the designated dual issue coalition in Arizona addressing both sexual and domestic violence for 40 years. Our purpose is to increase public awareness about the issues of sexual and domestic violence, enhance the safety of and services for sexual and domestic violence victims and survivors and end sexual and domestic violence in Arizona communities. We do this by providing education & training, technical assistance, advocating at the legislature in public policy as well as providing assistance to survivors and advocates through our Sexual and Domestic Violence Services Helpline. www.acesdv.org

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! We’ll be posting facts and information on our social media every day during the 31 days of DVAM in October. Click here to follow along or post on your own social media accounts. Please post along with the statewide hashtag #EndDVinAZ. Thank you for raising awareness during domestic violence awareness month!