This post is part of a sponsored campaign with The Allstate Foundation and MomSelect. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Did you know that domestic violence affects one in four women in her lifetime?  Just to give some perspective on that number, domestic violence affects more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer… combined! So when you go to the grocery store, pick your child up at school or bring your family to the park, chances are you crossed paths with a women that endures abuse. Allstate Foundation Purple Purse is helping to raise more awareness, break the cycle one family at a time.

Breaking The Stereotypes

Many people believe that the only form of domestic violence is physical, when in fact that is very untrue. Financial abuse happens in 98% of all cases of domestic violence and is one of the most powerful ways to keep a victim trapped. Nearly 8 in 10 Americans have not heard much about financial abuse as a form of domestic violence. Sadly the number one reason domestic violence survivors stay, leave or return to an abusive relationship is that they don’t have the financial resources to break free from their abuser.

Allstate Foundation Purple Purse aims to make it fashionable to talk about this difficult topic.

Most everybody knows that domestic violence is, yet just over 1 in 3 have ever talked about it. Allstate Foundation Purple Purse is a way to make talking about a difficult topic more approachable. Just as we see so many cancer support ribbons, the purple purse key chains are going to have the same effect in helping raise awareness.

 How Can You Help?

Your donations and contributions can help ensure domestic violence survivors aren’t financially trapped in an abusive relationship by joining the Purple Purse Challenge. The Allstate Foundation is investing more than half a million dollars in the Purple Purse Challenge. The more donations each nonprofit gets, the more it can compete for Allstate Foundation incentive funding.

Others Who Are Helping

 I was so happy to see the emmy-nominated actress and domestic violence activist Kerry Washington is serving as a Purple Purse ambassador to help raise awareness for the cause. She has also designed a gorgeous and limited-edition purple purse. The purple purse was created to represent the center of a woman’s financial domain in hopes to inspire women to reclaim their financial independence. Seeing strong women remodels such as Kerry Washington standing up for such a great cause makes me happy that there are celebrities, such as her, that my daughter can look up to.

Get involved! Break the silence! Help support this amazing cause today!

Go to PurplePurse.com between Sept. 2 and Oct. 3 to join the Challenge and help a nonprofit near you.

* If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.*