Bright Horizons Recieves $20,000 Grant from the Mary Kay Foundation

Bright Horizons RECEIVES $20,000 GRANT FROM THE MARY KAY FOUNDATION

 Funding to Provide Expanded Services for 131 Clients Seeking Safety from Abuse

 Norfolk, NE (September 22, 2014) – While domestic violence has experienced a recent boost in awareness due to recent events, women and children in Northeast and Western Nebraskaare in need of housing, resource and support programs as they flee abusive situations and work to rebuild their lives.

Bright Horizons in Norfolk, NE received a $20,000 grant from The Mary Kay Foundationas part of the organization’s annual Shelter Grant program to maintain critical services and programs. The Mary Kay Foundation awarded a total of $3 million in funding to 150 domestic violence shelters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam in advance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

“It’s been a bigger challenge than ever for shelters to keep their doors open and grants from The Mary Kay Foundationare a vital part in helping shelters move forward in their missions,” said Anne Crews, board member for The Mary Kay Foundationand Vice President of Public Affairs for Mary Kay Inc. “The shelter grants are a signature program of the Foundationand represent just one of the ways Mary Kay is committed to ending domestic violence. We are proud to support local shelters like Bright Horizonsthat are on the front lines of helping women and children who need shelter and support from abuse.”

The Bright Horizons Shelter provides enhanced advocacy for women and children that are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The funds received from The Mary Kay Foundation will allow staff to renovate carpet in the entire basement, replace the automatic garage door and replace the soft water system that funding does not cover. Bright Horizons serves approximately 1,114 survivors annually.

“We are very grateful for this opportunity that the Mary Kay Foundation has provided Bright Horizons. This grant will help us continue to provide services to victims of domestic violence in our shelter, and continue to provide them a safe place for when they are fleeing an unsafe situation.”  SaidLacy Kimes, Shelter Manager.

For nearly 20 years The Mary Kay Foundationhas supported the prevention and elimination of domestic violence, an epidemic that touches one in every four women in her lifetime. Through the Foundation’s annual shelter grant program, $37 million has been granted to domestic violence organizations since 2000. Nearly 700 shelters requested funding this year.

Visit marykayfoundation.org for additional information.

About The Mary Kay Foundation The Mary Kay Foundation was created in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. Since the Foundation’s inception, it has awarded more than $37 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and nearly $22 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. More than 97% of each donated dollar goes to the missions. To learn more about The Mary Kay Foundation, visit marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).