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Our Philanthropy: Alpha Chi  Omega - Supporting Victims of Domestic

   

Why Domestic Violence is our Philanthropy
It is a huge problem and an issue that affects so many women and families from all walks of life. Alpha Chi Omega wants to help out as much as possible, in any way we can.

What We Do
Our time and money goes primarily to Safe Harbor, a domestic violence shelter in Henrico County. In the past, we also contributed to the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA).

Safe Harbor
Safe Harbor was established in the spring of 2000 by a Westhampton/WILL alumna. SH is a secure location unknown to the general public, with volunteers/visitors signing contracts stating that they will not disclose the location to others. It can house only 8 guests at one time (including both women and their children - they do not house men). The shelter is often full. SH is the result of a combined community effort initiated after the recognition of violence. The Richmond Community Coalition, which helped SH get off the ground, includes: Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Commonwealth Catholic Church Charities, Henrico County, VCU, and the YWCA.

*** To learn even more about Safe Harbor visit their website by clicking here: Safe Harbor Website!***

How we Help Safe Harbor
Alpha Chi Omega has sisters who devote their time to volunteering at Safe Harbor by helping out around the office and throwing holiday parties for the women and children who live there. Since a fairly considerable amount of training is required before women can volunteer at the shelter and since generally only small groups are allowed to come at a time, we also put forth a lot of effort into raising money for the shelter on campus. We do this by holding multiple sales and events in which all proceeds go towards Safe Harbor. We hold a Carnation sale in the fall, a Holiday Treats sale around finals time, and  hold an annual Mr. Alpha Chi competition in the spring. We also participate in the clothesline project (organized by WILL and Stealing Home) in October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month).

The Alpha Chi Omega Foundation
Each year we also raise money for the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation by participating in their annual Luminary Project. The luminary project asks students, faculty, and staff to donate money and to purchase paper luminary bags which will be placed around the University Forum and the event is accompanied by an evening where experts and survivors speak out against domestic violence. For more information on the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and the Luminary Project please feel free to visit their website at www.pursuant2.com/alphachiomega/axo_email1.htm.

Other Ways in which Alpha Chi's are Philanthropic
This past semester we entered every Greek Weekend event, and in doing so, donated money to the philanthropies of all of the other fraternities and sororities on campus. At Trick or Treat Street (TOTS) this past October, we created a haunted house and other fun games for local children at fraternity row.  A large number of sisters will also be involved in the University's Build It program which works to bring the campus community together with Habitat for Humanity to build a home for low-income families in the surrounding area.

More Domestic Violence Information ...

What is Domestic Violence? 
Domestic violence, also called relationship or family violence, can include, but is not limited to: battery, assault, stalking, rape/incest/sexual assault within a family situation, emotional abuse, financial control, exploitation, threatening to kill a spouse or family member, threat with a deadly weapon, isolation, and threatening to harm a spouse or child.

More on Domestic Violence:
DV occurs in all types of homes.  It crosses all racial, economic, class, and age barriers.  While the majority of DV consists of men abusing women, do not forget that women can abuse men, either parent can abuse their children, and abuse also occurs in same-sex relationships.

Domestic Violence Statistics:

  • In the US, 3 to 4 women are killed by their batterers every day.
  • One out of 2 women will be in a violent relationship.
  • Women are being battered every 9-12 seconds in the US by a husband, boyfriend, or live-in partner.
  • Just because someone never gets hit doesn’t mean that it’s not domestic violence.  Many abusers will prohibit their victims from ever seeing friends/family or spending time with anyone but him/her.  They try to control or change the victim’s behavior by not allowing a victim access to ANY money unless the abuser gives it out.  They can also use the children to control the victim.
  • 42% of murdered women are killed by their intimate partners.
  • Between 15% and 25% of pregnant women are battered.
  • In VA, about 40% of battered women calling the Virginia Family Violence Hotline are seeking shelter or needing to relocate to another city or state for safety reasons.
  • Up to 50% of all homeless women and children in the US are fleeing domestic violence.
  • On average, it takes an abused woman 7-11 attempts before she permanently leaves her abuser.  That is because:
  • Many women don’t have access to money or the necessary job skills that they feel they need to “make it” on their own.
  • Most shelters are often full, and there is a limited amount of time in which they can remain there.
  • They are encouraged by family/friends/clergy to NOT “break up the marriage.”
  • The love their abusers.
  • They don’t want their children to grow up without a father/mother.
  • They think they deserve violence.  Throughout the abuse period, a victim’s self-confidence is completely drained.