Mu Tau Mu of Alpha Chi Omega

This week, we honor the legacy of Farrah Fawcett, pop culture icon and domestic violence awareness champion. Her made-for-TV movie The Burning Bed was a major television event in 1984; it was the first movie ever to include a nation-wide 800 number that people could call for help with an issue. That phone number belonged to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH). Farrah served on their National Advisory Council as well.

To honor her commitment to domestic violence awareness, we ask you to join the NDVH Million Voices campaign. It’s free and easy! http://www.ndvh.org/join/ If you are on Twitter, please follow @MillionVoices.

Help us spread the word! Here’s how:

1. On Twitter, post a message like this:

Honor Farrah Fawcett's legacy of fighting #domesticviolence: Join @MillionVoices campaign http://bit.ly/1avlB5 #charitytuesday #axo

     2. On facebook, post this link http://www.ndvh.org/join (choose the 5th picture for the Thumbnail, the logo for the Million Voices campaign). Along with the link you could say something like this:

The domestic violence awareness cause lost a great champion last Thursday with the death of Farrah Fawcett. Learn more about her legacy at http://bit.ly/1avlB5 and join the NDVH Million Voices Campaign in her memory.

Here's a sample facebook status:

     3. On email, send a link to this post (http://bit.ly/KQB4i) and ask your friends to participate... or just copy and paste the whole post into your email!

Thank you for your participation and for making a difference!

Farrah Fawcett will long be remembered for her iconic haircut, her red bathing suit, and her battle with cancer. But we hope her most enduring legacy will be as an advocate for domestic violence awareness.

From her portrayal of Francine Hughes in the landmark film The Burning Bed to the many years she devoted to improving conditions for victims of domestic violence, Farrah worked continuously for the cause right up to the end, leaving bequests to domestic violence shelters in her will.

In her honor we encourage you to join the National Domestic Violence Hotline Million Voices campaign http://www.ndvh.org/join/ and follow @MillionVoices on twitter. For additional ways see (link to 6/30 post). Keep reading to learn more about Farrah’s legacy:

Farrah’s 1984 film The Burning Bed changed the way America thought about battered women… when it aired as a movie of the week (during one of the first ever National Domestic Violence Weeks), it was the first time family violence had appeared on television. It helped the public see family violence as a public issue, in a time when it had been private, behind closed doors, a personal issue. It was first film ever to include a nationwide 800 number for people who needed help.

The Burning Bed truly was Farrah’s project. She worked to get the film produced; she recruited the director. She visited battered women’s shelters and interviewed victims to aid in her portrayal of Francine Hughes. Farrah risked everything, as one of the most beautiful women on the planet, to star in an unglamorous film in which she spent most of it beaten and bruised. Her risk paid off: The film was critically acclaimed, winning the Golden Globe. Farrah was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe. The Burning Bed was the most-watched TV movie of the year

In her personal life, Farrah’s volunteer work on behalf of domestic violence awareness included serving on the board of the National Advisory Council for The National Domestic Violence Hotline, participating in panel discussions on domestic violence for the Show Coalition, speaking on behalf of the cause, and being a part of events like the Humanitarian Awards in Media.

So today, we ask you to:

* Remember Farrah’s legacy as an advocate for domestic violence awareness

*be grateful for the pioneering work

* and feel hope because Farrah’s efforts made a difference for many women.

In Farrah's honor, join the National Domestic Violence Hotline Million Voices campaign – it’s FREE and easy http://www.ndvh.org/join/!

Rest in Peace Farrah Fawcett (February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009)

We welcome your comments.

This week we're trying something new! We’d like to know how Alpha Chi Omega sisters and friends feel about a short film designed to raise awareness about domestic violence. Less than a month after its release, British television banned it for being "too shocking."

Here’s what to do:

First, go to http://bit.ly/13wSir, watch the video, vote in the poll, and comment.

Second, spread the word about the project!

a. On twitter, post a message like this:

Video campaign too shocking for domestic violence awareness? Help us decide http://bit.ly/13wSir #axo #charitytuesday

b. On facebook, post the link (http://bit.ly/13wSir) to your profile.

c. Via email, send a link to this post (http://www.axomtm.org/journal) and ask your friends to participate... or just copy and paste the whole post into your email!

Have other ideas for spreading the word? Please comment below! THANK YOU!

Women’s Aid and Grey London created a domestic violence awareness campaign, the centerpiece of which is a 2-minute long short film starring actor Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean, Atonement) and directed by Joe Wright (Atonement, The Soloist). The video, launched April 2, 2009, was intended to run on television and in movie theatres. By the end of the month British television had banned it for being "too shocking."

We invite you to watch the video and then vote in the poll below. Do you agree with the censors? Please comment below as well! Thank you!

Our goal this week is to show our gratitude to a corporate partner that has made a huge difference to the domestic violence awareness movement. Through its “Stop Violence in the Home” products and “Bag for Life” The Body Shop has contributed $1.5 million over the last six years to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).

The program will come to an end soon, but through July 2009, you can still “shop for dva:” your purchase of these four products will make a difference!

Stop Violence in the Home Daisy Soap

Stop Violence in the Home Hi-Shine Lip Treatment

Stop Violence in the Home Lip Care Stick Duo

Bag for Life

Here are some ways to spread the message:

1. On twitter, post a message like this:

Thank you Body Shop for $1.5m to NCADV & domestic violence awareness! http://bit.ly/SP1Hi Shop now, ends 7/31 #axo #charitytuesday

2. On facebook, post a link like this (http://bit.ly/SP1Hi) to your profile.

3. On email, send a link to this post (http://www.axomtm.org/journal) and ask your friends to participate... or just copy and paste the whole post into your email!

4. On your blog, write a story thanking the Body Shop and NCADV and post a link in the comments section below this post.

5. Shop! :)