Laura’s House Receives a $5,000 Grant from Bank of America
Posted on December 17, 2013
Funding to sustain programs for those affected by domestic violence
LADERA RANCH, Calif. Dec. 17, 2013 – Laura’s House, a non-profit organization whose mission is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence, while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse, today announced that it has received a $5,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
“The comprehensive range of shelter and support services provided by Laura’s House help survivors of domestic violence in a number of important ways,“ said Margaret Bayston, CEO and Executive Director, Laura’s House. “Not only do we offer temporary shelter so that survivors can leave their abusers and begin the process of rebuilding their lives in a safe and supportive environment, our program provides support services including counseling, case management, transitional house, legal advocacy and life skills training to help participants become self-sufficient and remain free of violence.”
The $5,000 grant will be used to help fund the following services:
- 24-hour hotline and crisis intervention response to provide immediate safety for families dealing with domestic violence.
- Emergency shelter for abused women and children who would otherwise become homeless.
- Individual and family therapeutic counseling to strengthen crisis management and communication and coping skills for both adults and children.
- Life skills and parenting education to strengthen each client’s ability to live independently.
- Access and referrals to appropriate social and legal services and resources to maximize self-sufficiency, safety, and personal growth.
- Intensive case management services so that clients can achieve personal goals and needs.
- Assistance to participants in locating safe, affordable permanent housing so that there is no longer at risk of homelessness.
“The funds we receive from local businesses, foundations and individual donors are critical to sustaining these programs, and we are grateful to Bank of America for their generosity in supporting our efforts to ‘end the silence’ of domestic violence,” continued Bayston.
Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, Laura’s House served more than 15,000 individuals through its shelter, counseling, legal, prevention and education programs. According to the 2012 Agency Outcomes, these numbers included a 27% rise in the number of women and children served through the Laura’s House Emergency Shelter program, when compared to the number served in 2011. Furthermore, during 2012, Laura’s House experienced 12% year-over-year increase in the number of individuals served through its counseling and legal services, and prevention and education programs.
To meet this growing demand for services, Laura’s House recently expanded its capacity to serve individuals and families that are impacted by domestic violence through its Emergency Shelter Rebuild project that was completed in December 2011, and the new transitional housing facility which opened in February 2012.
“Bank of America supports local nonprofits that address the most immediate critical needs, such as the shelter and counseling resources provided by Laura’s House,” said Eric Chamberlain, senior vice president at Bank of America. “Laura’s House is a model for Orange County programs that address both the immediate short-term need for domestic violence shelters and counseling services, while providing long-term benefits to the community through the education programs that enable its clients to rebuild vibrant, productive lives that are free of violence.”
In addition to the grant, Bank of America also supports Laura’s House through leadership and employee volunteerism. This support is part of the company’s intensified philanthropic focus on three core issues vital to the economic health of communities: housing, jobs and hunger and represents an important component of Bank of America’s lending, investing and giving activities to help advance local economies.
About Laura’s House
For nearly two decades, Laura’s House has provided residential shelter and support services to nearly 3,500 families, and counseling, life skills education and legal assistance to over 40,000 individuals. The mission of Laura’s House is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.
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