Chanda is a survivor and advocate for Women Against Abuse. She first shared her story at the 2017 iPledge Campaign press conference.

When I first met my abuser, I was just 14 years old and he was 20. I thought I was in love, so I ignored the disapproval of my mom and sister.

Mike, a former police detective with the Philadelphia Police Department, has been working as the police liaison for Women Against Abuse, so that he can help survivors in ways he couldn’t as a detective.

I’ll never forget that moment when the judge asked, “Did he hit you?” I was standing in the courtroom, our 4-month old son sleeping in the baby carrier strapped to my chest. I didn’t know what to say. Everything else – the years of insults, the screaming in my face, the violence, the gaslighting, the drug abuse – was being overlooked. Just because you’ve never been hit, doesn’t mean you aren’t being abused.

Doug Schoenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of SofterWare, Inc., recently provided a challenge match through the Schoenberg Family Charitable Fund as an incentive to help Women Against Abuse gain new monthly donors.

When people consider domestic violence (DV), they often think of the adult victim/survivor. But what about the children who have seen or experienced the abuse; the boys, girls and young adults who have been afraid in their own home? Candace, who worked as a therapist at Women Against Abuse, witnessed her mother being abused for many years, is choosing to share her story to shine a light on this little told aspect of DV. These are her words.

Al pensar en la violencia doméstica, a menudo se piensa en una víctima/sobreviviente adulta. Pero ¿qué sucede con los niños, las niñas y las personas jóvenes adultas que han experimentado abuso o han sentido miedo en sus propios hogares? Candace, quien trabajó como terapeuta en Women Against Abuse, fue testigo de cómo abusaban a su madre durante años y elige contar su historia sobre este aspecto de la violencia doméstica del que poco se habla. A continuación, sus palabras.

Dick MacKay knows the real reason for the holiday season—to bring hope to families in need.

When a survivor's child was in trouble, Beth Huffman helped organize a press conference to get the story out on behalf of Women Against Abuse's Legal Center.

Sheila arrived at the Women Against Abuse Emergency Shelter after waking up in a hospital emergency room.