United Way of the Midlands awards $40,000 grant to Catholic Charities' Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program
August 8, 2024
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Des Moines, is pleased to announce it was recently awarded a $40,000, two-year grant from United Way of the Midlands (UWM) Community Impact Fund for its Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program. Thanks to the generosity of the UWM donors, Catholic Charities will be able to enhance the care its clients receive through this program.
This funding was awarded thanks to a dedicated group of community volunteers who meticulously reviewed applications and highlighted this program's vital role in fostering a thriving community. Their commitment and insight underscore a collective effort through UWM to address pressing local needs, ensuring that this funding will directly contribute to meaningful, positive change.
According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, 35 percent of women and 29 percent of men in Iowa, and 33 percent of women and 28 percent of men in Nebraska, experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence and/or stalking in their lifetimes – which is higher than the national average. The adverse impacts of these acts of violence are not limited to individuals but also to their children, families and communities. The Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program supports anyone who faces these issues, regardless of background, through a 24/7 crisis hotline, an emergency shelter, one-on-one supportive advocacy, outreach education and more. The program provides a safe and encouraging environment for survivors to grow and move forward feeling empowered.
With the help of this grant, the Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program will be able to increase advocacy services and support survivors with their legal, medical, mental and financial needs. The program has also seen an increase in the need for outreach for survivors of Hispanic origin. This grant will help create and implement focused programming with bi-lingual and bi-cultural services to better support this population.
Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program clients are grateful for the individualized, hands-on and uplifting care they receive through the program.
“If I had not had the support of my advocate at my court hearing, I feel I would have given up pursuing critical actions necessary to better my situation,” said a Catholic Charities’ Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program client.
“We are proud to partner with United Way of the Midlands to support those struggling in our communities,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director, Barbara Q. Decker. “This grant will enable a positive change in the lives of our clients.”
About Catholic Charities, Diocese of Des Moines
Founded in 1924, Catholic Charities, Des Moines Diocese, is dedicated to offering help and hope to those in need throughout central and southwest Iowa. Catholic Charities, a United Way agency, provides individual and family counseling, emergency family shelter, food pantry, domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault shelter and services, refugee resettlement services, and more. Facilities include Catholic Charities Emergency Family Shelter, Catholic Charities Food Pantry and Catholic Charities Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program in Council Bluffs, IA. For information about Catholic Charities of Des Moines, its programs, and services, please visit www.catholiccharitiesdm.org.
About United Way of the Midlands
For the past 100+ years, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has used its community-wide perspective to identify local needs that are going unseen or unmet – and how it can partner with corporate, government organizations, nonprofits and donors to tackle them. Today, UWM remains committed to uniting our community’s caring spirit to build a stronger tomorrow. It invests donor dollars in more than 100 local nonprofit programs that, together, form a circle of support around our community. These programs are addressing pressing social and economic disparities and providing the essentials families need to thrive, such as healthy food, a safe place to go after school and job support.