St. Lawrence Valley Renewal House is one of more than 220 nonprofits urging the public to support survivors of domestic violence and financial abuse during The Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge, which takes place Oct. 2 to 31.

The annual campaign coincides with what Renewal House calls “National Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” which they mark in October. If St. Lawrence Valley Renewal House reaches their goal of $10,000 by contributing to the Purple Purse Challenge, they will win an additional $100,000.

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“On an average day across the nation in 2016, victims made nearly 12,000 requests for services— including emergency shelter, housing, transportation, childcare, legal representation, and more—that could not be provided because programs did not have the resources. The most frequently requested non-residential services that could not be provided were housing advocacy, legal representation, and financial assistance. The Purple Purse Challenge provides a critical funding source for domestic violence agencies that increasingly face high demand for their services, even as they operate with limited resources,” according to a news release from Renewal House.

"Domestic Violence agencies rely on the public's support to meet the needs of survivors," Ilene J. Burke, executive director of St. Lawrence Valley Renewal House, said in a prepared statement. "That's why the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge is so important. This fundraising effort helps us raise money so we can keep helping survivors regain and rebuild their lives."

Nearly 100 percent of the funds nonprofits raise or win during the Purple Purse Challenge will go toward providing life-changing services to domestic violence survivors and their families, so they can break free and stay free from abuse.

New York State served approximately 6,800 survivors of domestic violence and financial abuse in 2016, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence national census. In St. Lawrence County, 814 survivors of domestic violence were served.

This is the first time St. Lawrence Valley Renewal House is participating in the Purple Purse Challenge, which last year helped domestic violence programs around the country raise over $3 million. St. Lawrence Valley Renewal House will participate in Division II nonprofits with budgets less than $1.5 million.

In 99 percent of domestic violence cases, victims will experience financial abuse, which means their abusers will deny them access to money and financial resources they need to break free. Financial abuse is one of the primary reasons domestic violence victims stay in or return to abusive relationships. Without resources of their own, victims are often unable to care for themselves and their families, find employment and housing, or save for the future.

The Purple Purse Challenge provides several opportunities for nonprofits to exceed their fundraising goals. For example, the nonprofit in each division that raises the most money will receive a $100,000 grant. Additional grants range from $50,000 for second place to $5,000 for seventh place. There are also weekly bonus challenges.

And to further boost their fundraising efforts, nonprofits will receive a purple purse designed by tennis champion and Purple Purse Ambassador, Serena Williams. Handcrafted from premium Italian leather, the limited-edition purse is valued at $400. St. Lawrence Valley Renewal House will feature the purse at their annual dinner on October 11th when they celebrate 35 years of serving victims in St. Lawrence County, New York. In addition to the local fundraiser, one individual from all donors to the Purple Purse Challenge, on PurplePurse.com each week, will win a purse in a random drawing.

The Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge is administered by CrowdRise and is part of Allstate Foundation Purple Purse, a public education and fundraising program aimed at raising awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence and financial abuse and the need for resources to help survivors. Now in its 13th year, Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Campaign has propelled more than 1 million survivors on the path to safety and security, and has invested more than $55 million to empower victims to break free from abuse through life-changing financial education, job training and readiness.