BLOG

We have received the Purple Ribbon Award for Program of the Year by Domesticshelters.org. A $10,000 grant to support services for survivors accompanies this national honor.

Theresa’s Fund, DomesticShelters.org and experts in the field launched the Purple Ribbon Awards, the first comprehensive awards program honoring shelters, programs, volunteers, and survivors committed to ending intimate partner abuse.

“We all know it’s not easy work. But helping victims, survivors and their families and the relentless pursuit to end domestic violence is absolutely fulfilling and necessary work.” – Award organizers

Gold medallions were awarded to notable nominees across 28 categories earlier this year. GreenHouse17 also was recognized for Most Innovative Service and Best Annual/Impact Report.

Grant Announcement

More than 650 people from 58 states/provinces and 10 countries attended the awards celebration and announcement of grant winners on September 15. Filmmaker Angela Shelton served as the special guest host for the event. 

“It means so much to be honored by fellow advocates in the mission,” remarked Darlene Thomas, our executive director, after learning of the grant award.” She later reflected on the honor in an email to staff and members of our Board of Directors: “Folks from all over the country sent out a huge congratulations to you, your work, your vision and commitment to survivors.”

Fellow Award Winners

We send our congratulations to these and other inspirational award winners:

SOS violence conjugale
Outstanding Awareness Campaign
Quebec, Canada
$7,500 Grant Recipient

G.R.O.W. Foundation
Survivor of the Year (Neisha Himes)
Chesapeake, VA
$5,000 Grant Recipient

Control Alt Delete
Most Innovative Service
Phoenix, AZ
$2,500 Grant Recipient

Laurens County Safe Home
Shelter Turnaround of the Year
Clinton, SC
$2,500 Grant Recipient

Center of Hope
Shelter Employee of the Year (Rachel Enriquez)
Columbia, TN
$2,500 Grant Recipient

About the organizers

DomesticShelters.org was launched in 2014 by Theresa’s Fund, an Arizona-based organization that has been deeply committed and involved in preventing violence against women since 1992. The website has become one of the fastest-growing websites on the topic of domestic violence.

DV8 Kitchen’s new location is now open and you can eat at the GreenHouse17 table!  

In February, DV8 Kitchen invited 14 nonprofit organizations in the recovery community to paint a table for their new location in Lexington’s East End – 594 E Third St #100. 

Kristin Carpenter, a local artist and member of our staff, painted ours! Her original painting illustrates the benefits of nature-based healing. Lots of sunshine and water nourish flowers and vegetables to grow strong and stand tall in the fields. Our 24-hour hotline in the bottom right corner of the table will help survivors to connect with supportive services. 

DV8 Kitchen is a local restaurant & bakery that employs people in recovery from substance use disorder who are trying to redirect their lives. Their original location on South Broadway has thrived since opening in August 2017.  

The work of DV8 Kitchen is especially important to our mission. Many survivors struggle with substance use while healing from intimate partner abuse. A strong and supportive community is crucial for those on the path to healing and sobriety. 

If you eat at our table, please tag us on social media so we can share it!

“I believe it’s a cause that deserves more awareness.”

For the past two years, around the time of his birthday, Kellen Macklin launched Facebook Fundraisers to ask his friends and family to make a donation to support GreenHouse17. His efforts have collected $1,250 to support our mission.

“My life hasn’t directly been affected by domestic violence, but I’ve been very close to people whose lives have been for many years. I believe it’s a cause that deserves more awareness.” 

“I was initially pretty apprehensive about using Facebook Fundraisers, but it’s so simple. Maybe takes 30 seconds to set up everything.” 

Donors can choose if their donations are public or private, and Facebook covers processing fees for gifts made to registered charitable organizations. When the fundraiser ends, donations are deposited directly to the organization’s bank account. 

“Even if you only raise a few dollars for whatever organization you choose, it’s more than they had before.”  

Kellen also supports us in other ways. Many nights while bartending at Arcadium in Lexington, he wears a purple mask with the words “support survivors” to spark conversations about our mission. 

This article was included in our print newsletter, Bloom. To read all the articles, click here.