Mary Kay Foundation awards $20,000 shelter grant to WINGS Program
WINGS Program, Inc., a women's shelter serving Chicago's northwest suburbs, has received a $20,000 grant from The Mary Kay Foundation. In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, The Mary Kay Foundation awarded $20,000 grants to more than 150 domestic violence shelters across the country for a total of $3 million.
WINGS will use the grant to provide critical support for its Safe House, which is the only emergency domestic violence shelter in northwest Cook County. The Safe House is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. "Domestic violence continues to be one of the main causes of homelessness and health problems among women, and it exists right here in the northwest suburbs," said Rebecca Darr, Executive Director of WINGS. "Supporters like the Mary Kay Foundation are essential to keep the Safe House open for women and children whose lives are at risk."
WINGS' Safe House welcomes up to 30 guests per night and will provide 7,500 nights of shelter to about 225 women and children this year. In addition to emergency shelter, WINGS also provides longer-term transitional and supportive housing as well as supportive services that help homeless women stabilize and become self-sufficient.
"The Mary Kay Foundation is committed to breaking the cycle of domestic violence," said Anne Crews, Mary Kay Inc. Vice President of Government Relations and board member for The Mary Kay Foundation. "Through our grants, we honor and support shelters across the country that are having a profound impact for women and children in their communities. Since 2000, we have granted $31 million to help domestic violence shelters meet their critical needs and support their ongoing community efforts."
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 nearly $31 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and more than $18 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about The Mary Kay Foundation, visit marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).
About WINGS
Since 1985, WINGS Program, Inc. (Women in Need Growing Stronger) has provided shelter and supportive services to women and children affected by homelessness and domestic violence. WINGS also operates resale stores in Schaumburg, Palatine and Niles. For more information about WINGS' services, please visit wingsprogram.com or call the 24-hour hotline: 847-221-5680. For resale store and other information, please visit wingsprogram.com or call 847-519-7820.