Minnesota Shelter Secures $20K Grant to Fight Domestic Violence

RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

Anna Maries' Alliance in St. Cloud,  a center dedicated to helping domestic abuse victims and their families, was recently chosen to receive a $20,000 unrestricted grant to support local survivors.

I recently asked Lori Eich, Director of Development and Communications, if she could tell me what the plans are for those funds?

Lori: 'Over the past years, there has been a significant decrease in the amount of federal funds available for crime victim service organizations like Anna Marie’s Alliance through the Office of Justice, Anna Marie’s Alliance’s main funding source. Funds donated through the Mary Kay Ash Foundation will be used to allow Anna Marie’s Alliance to continue to provide strong, robust support toward their life-saving work and innovative programs and resources. All programs and resources provided by Anna Marie’s Alliance support individuals and families as they seek refuge and relief on their journey to an abuse-free life.'

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The Mary Kay Ash Foundation has provided this grant to women’s shelters across the United States with a mission to help end the epidemic of violence against women. Domestic violence shelters, such as Anna Marie’s Alliance provide safe, temporary homes for individuals and families escaping imminent danger due to abuse, and many include innovative programs that help to empower women so that they can live a life free from violence.

COMMITMENT TO ENDING DOMESTIC ABUSE

Lori: 'Mary Kay Ash Foundation has an incredible commitment to the critical work of organizations focused on ending relationship abuse across the United States. The support of partners like Mary Kay Ash enables us to provide robust programming that will have a long-lasting impact of keeping families safe and preventing abuse. We are honored to receive such a significant contribution from the Foundation,' said Lori Eich, Director of Development and Communications at Anna Marie’s Alliance.

Lori, do you have stats locally on how many women and children have benefited from the program at Anna Maries?

Lori: 'Since inception in 1979, Anna Marie’s Alliance has provided emergency shelter for over 23,000 individuals and families, and provided resources to countless additional victims of relationship abuse across central Minnesota through community programming and services.'

What is Anna Maries working on for 2025 and beyond?

'As the agency continually works to understand better the impacts of oppression, the needs of the diverse populations served, and the trauma that affects survivors, Anna Marie’s Alliance also seeks to continually strengthen programs and services to more holistically respond to the need. Anna Marie’s Alliance continues to work toward increasing community engagement and advocacy, to ultimately decrease the number of domestic violence incidents reported in our local communities, and create program models that help move the needle beyond our region.'
Lori explained that Anna Marie’s Alliance is close to finishing its emergency shelter expansion and remodel, where they are converting their existing dormitory-style bedrooms to efficiency-style apartments. This will give those staying at Anna Marie's the much-needed privacy and autonomy they deserve. The new spaces are tentatively scheduled to be completed by this summer.