Finding Our Voices has been awarded $10,000 from the Sam L. Cohen Foundation. The grant aims to bring safety and freedom to Maine women and children trapped in domestic abuse, through the Finding Our Voices Get Out Stay Out fund.

The fund pays for short-term motel stays, apartment rent, car repairs and gas cards, computer repair, legal consultations, and storage unit and U-Haul fees.

“This generous grant from such a prestigious organization as the Sam L. Cohen Foundation is a wonderful validation of our grassroots, survivor-powered efforts,” said Patrisha McLean, Finding Our Voices founder and president, in a news release.  McLean added the donation is especially welcome, because “Domestic abuse has been getting steadily worse since the onset of COVID, and the holidays only sharpen the violence and control of abusive family members.”

In the 18 months since the Get Out Stay Out fund was seeded by the Sunshine Lady Foundation, Finding Our Voices has empowered more than 85 Maine families to escape perpetual fear and misery in what should be the safe, happy place of home. Referrals to the fund come from partners including district attorney offices, police departments, homeless shelters, domestic abuse agencies, Maine Community Action, Opportunity Alliance, and Goodwill Northern New England.

The Finding Our Voices trademark campaign is groundbreaking domestic abuse-awareness posters and bookmarks featuring the photo portraits of 44 Maine survivors ages 18-81, including students, an incarcerated woman, and Gov. Janet Mills. The posters have papered downtown business windows in 85-plus Maine towns, with smaller versions in restaurant bathrooms, women’s changing rooms (including every Goodwill store in three states), synagogues, employee break rooms, and schools.

For more information, visit findingourvoices.net or email McLean at hello@findingourvoices.net.

 

 

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