Ann Marie Thigpen, director, Long Island Center for Nonprofit Leadership; Dr. Robert A. Scott, president, Adelphi University; Bob Holden, New York field vice president for Allstate Insurance and Allstate Foundation committee member; Peter I. Chernack, faculty director for the Long Island Center for Nonprofit Leadership and School of Social Work associate dean for program development and administration Adelphi University’s Long Island Center for Nonprofit Leadership (LICNL) received a $35,000 grant from the Allstate Foundation to facilitate a program that will assist victims of domestic violence and the region’s nonprofits to become more financially literate. The grant supports the Allstate Foundation’s national initiative and the acclaimed Economics Against Abuse curriculum to end domestic violence and find new ways to economically empower survivors.

Financial literacy is a critical skill in the survival and empowerment of victims of domestic violence. The LICNL, the “go-to” resource for the nonprofit sector on Long Island, is uniquely positioned to help advance the Allstate Foundation’s interest in promoting and sustaining financial literacy training for victims of domestic violence on Long Island. The Center will host a Train the Trainer program, where staff from organizations that address issues of domestic violence will be trained in Allstate’s Economics Against Abuse curriculum.

The program will train new instructors in the Economics Against Abuse curriculum, increasing financial literacy of victims of domestic abuse. The program will also provide financial training to the boards of directors of organizations that address issues of domestic violence, helping to ensure the organization’s sustainability.

“Allstate Foundation is very proud of its partnership with Adelphi University and we are especially proud of this program as it helps to ensure victims of domestic violence have the tools and education they need to be financially stable and plan for safe, secure futures,” said Bob Holden, New York field vice president of Allstate Insurance and Allstate Foundation committee member. “We are confident the partnership will energize, empower, and equip these survivors with the resources, knowledge, and skills they need to achieve economic empowerment.”

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence cites more than 50,000 reported cases in New York State alone in 2006. In the same year, more than 38,000 adults and 20,000 children were assisted by domestic violence programs in New York. Numerous reports have documented the challenges facing the nonprofit organizations upon whom these women and families rely for support. The current recession compounds those challenges, and puts added financial pressure on families and relationships.

“In today’s economy, the need to impart financial literacy to survivors of domestic violence has never been greater,” said Ann Marie Thigpen,” director of the Long Island Center for Nonprofit Leadership at Adelphi University. “Simultaneously, the region’s nonprofit organizations in this arena also need to be more financially aware than ever before. It is crucial that these organizations continue their good work and this program will help build the board’s capacity to ensure sustainability. Allstate is wisely addressing this issue from two vital angles.”

For more information about the Long Island Center for Nonprofit Leadership and its partnership with the Allstate Foundation, please contact Director Ann Marie Thigpen, at (516) 877-4429 or thigpen@adelphi.edu.