Press Release

For Release November 15

      CONTACT: Noemi Santana

        (917) 593-9650 
 

 One Million Votes  

One Million Dollars

Against Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

 

Queens, New York – November 15, 2007 -- With the slogan "One Million Votes -- One Million Dollars," Latin Women in Action, launches a voter registration campaign in Queens, on the steps of City Hall on Thursday, November 15^th with the aim of encouraging the 2008 presidential candidates to include domestic violence and child abuse prevention as part of their platform.   

“Every nine seconds, a woman is physically abused in the United States.   Hispanic women account for 11% of the total number of abused women in this country; and this translates to approximately 34% of all Hispanic women in the United States.  Additionally, an average of nearly four children die every day in the US as a result of child abuse or neglect by his parents or guardians, siblings or other relatives, 11% of which are Hispanic,” stated Ms. Haydee Zambrana, Executive Director of Latin Women in Action.   

“We deal with this on a daily basis and consider this a major crisis that needs to be addressed particularly for minority women and children in this country who are so underrepresented politically,” continued Ms. Zambrana who founded Latin Women in Action 17 years ago.   Ms. Zambrana was quoting recent figures from various national sources and from the Surgeon General of the United States who recently declared domestic violence the number one health issue facing the country today. 

The presidential elections are quickly approaching and Latin Women in Action will make domestic violence and child abuse a key issue and the reason for Hispanic families to cast their vote for the candidate who places this as a priority on his or her agenda.  Recognizing the importance of the need to lobby for the creation of and funding for more programs to help Hispanic women and children, Latin Women in Action, a non-profit organization, will commence a non-partisan voter registration campaign asking for a million votes and raising a million dollars to educate the Hispanic community about domestic violence and child abuse and to encourage them to demand that the presidential candidates pay attention to these plagues that distress Hispanic families throughout the nation.  The organization will raise the funds from corporations, foundations and individuals. With the funds raised, the organization will initiate a long-term marketing and media campaign to bring the message of education and prevention to Hispanic families.

  
 

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One Million Votes – One Million Dollars (Page 2 of 2) 

 

The campaign will start on November 15th and end July 2008, with just enough time for a million Hispanics to register to vote in support of Latin Women in Action's campaign.  The intended outcome of such a campaign will be that domestic violence and child abuse will be at the forefront of the presidential debate and that Latinos everywhere will be fully aware of this societal ill.  

Latin Women in Action will appeal to the general public, other non-profits, as well as men’s and women’s organizations to join in this campaign.  Among the agencies invited by Latin Women in Action to the press conference are:  The 60 DOVE member organizations, Safe Horizon, VIP Mujeres, Urban Health among others (list still in development).  

Latin Women in Action is a duly registered not-for-profit organization whose mission and goal are to provide essential services to Hispanic women and their families within New York State. It provides services to approximately15,000 families yearly through its various programs in addition to 5,000 families at its one day Back To School event.  For more information about this organization, visit their website:  www.latinwomeninaction.org or call:  (718) 478-2972. 

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Latin Women in Action, Inc., located at: 103-06 39th Avenue, Corona, NY 11368, is a comprehensive community based social service agency, founded and incorporated in 1990 by and for Latina Women.   

Latin Women in Action is committed to leadership, self-sufficiency, good citizenship, organizing, advocacy and development and empowerment of Latina women and their families. The agency does not discriminate on the basis of the individual's race, language, sexual orientation, and physical impediments.