Mu Tau Mu of Alpha Chi Omega

During September, we'll offer suggestions for plans Alpha Chi Omega sisters everywhere can make to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which runs October 1st to 31st. 

Our first suggestion involves working with our Alpha Chi Omega DVA partners Macy's and the Family Violence Prevention Fund. FVPF brings us one of our favorite programs: the Give Respect campaign. 

Each fall, Macy's hosts Shop For A Cause at its stores nationwide. The details (from the Macy's website): 

Shop for a Cause is Macy's national charity shopping day that offers the opportunity for local nonprofit organizations to raise funds in their communities. Since 2006, Shop for a Cause has helped raise more than $34 million for thousands of charity partners.

How it works:
Macy's invites charities to sign up, sell $5 tickets and keep 100% of the proceeds of every ticket they sell. Macy's also sells $5 tickets in-store with all proceeds benefiting designated charities. Customers purchasing tickets benefit by receiving incredible storewide shopping savings all day on October 16, 2010. On October 16, Macy's also hosts special events, prizes and other in-store excitement. Read more here.

There are two ways Shop for Cause can benefit domestic violence awareness. First, tickets sold nationwide at the register in all Macy's stores on October 16th will benefit Feeding America (and local food banks) and Family Violence Prevention Fund. Second, you can check the list of local causes to see if your community's DV shelter is registered as a cause for the day. The list is here. (A third alternative is to organize ticket sales for your local service provider - it's easy and risk-free. Details are here.) 

Whichever way you choose to go, we hope you'll be out supporting the cause on October 16th!