Evelyn Lozada Launches ‘Turn Hurt Into Joy’ Online Campaign To Help Support Domestic Violence Survivors

On Monday, October 2, 2017 The Evelyn Lozada Foundation (ELF) kicked off Domestic Violence Awareness Month by launching an online fundraising campaign to benefit two Bronx based nonprofits, Sauti Yetu Center for African Women and the Violence Intervention Program, Inc., (VIP), that work in solidarity to support victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Lozada’s foundation will give people a chance to win an original Ines Di Santo wedding gown. "I wore this dress as I prepared to enter into one of the most sacred and memorable unions of my life. Although all did not end well for me, it doesn't mean that my hurt couldn't be turned into joy! This online campaign is my testament that a negative can be transformed into a positive!" stated Lozada.

The “Basketball Wives” star was a victim of domestic violence herself during her marriage to Chad Johnson (known as Chad Ochocinco at the time), with Johnson being arrested in August 2012 on a charge of domestic battery according to the Davie, Florida police. Johnson entered a plea of no contest to misdemeanor domestic battery, avoiding jail time in an agreement with prosecutors and Lozada, and received a year of probation.

The campaign will go live on October 2nd through October 31st on the VIPmujeres.org website. The winner will be chosen and announced via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram in mid November. The Foundation is also planning some additional exciting surprises for the winner.

As for the collaboration, VIP Executive Director, Cecilia Gastón, says, "Sauti Yetu and VIP have worked as sister agencies for a long time and we've learned a lot from each other over the years. While we serve different communities, we share many of the same values and struggles. And we are honored to work with Evelyn as she leverages her position and platform to support and bring visibility to grassroots anti-violence work. This is what solidarity looks like."

"Sauti Yetu is truly grateful to Evelyn Lozada for her courage, compassion and generosity. And we are equally grateful for the sisterhood we share with VIP. We must continue to stand together in the ongoing efforts to bring families from crisis to safety every single day," said Zeinab Eyega, Executive Director.

The Evelyn Lozada Foundation mission is to transform society's response to domestic violence and to support the healing of the survivors. It is the foundation's intent to fulfill this mission in three ways: Healing, Education and Advocacy. Activities are conducted with the spirit of collaboration, supporting and affirming existing services for survivors residing in the Bronx, New York. Efforts will be coordinated to bring awareness to end violence and abuse. Components of the foundation's work will be interactive-sharing information to guide the victim to emotional and physical safety. Targeted age group is 18 years and up.