Power of the Purse is Every Woman’s Place (EWP)’s keystone event during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Community News |Sep 28, 2020|4 min read

MUSKEGON, MI–SEPTEMBER 24–Every Woman’s Place announces its 2020 Power of the Purse event, with Prada Sponsor Nowak Machined Products.

 

Nowak Machined Products is standing together with Every Woman’s Place to change lives impacted by the trauma of domestic violence. As a Prada Sponsor of the Power of the Purse, an event in which prominent men in the community model luxury purses for bid in a live auction—and donated purses are offered in a silent auction—Nowak joins West Michigan in an evening of glamour and doing good.

 

“Domestic violence and sexual assault can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, race or income, which is why we’re grateful to have EWP in our community to act as a powerful resource to support and advocate for those survivors, ” says Ken Nowak, owner of Nowak Machined Products.

 

“As a husband, with three daughters and a granddaughter, I feel a personal connection supporting Power of the Purse to help spread the message that wearing a purse doesn’t make someone a target for assault,” he added.

 

“I’m looking forward to making my modeling debut on the Power of the Purse stage this year and seeing the members of our community dig deep into their pockets to help support and give back to EWP for all the work they do,” Nowak concluded.

 

The live event, limited to 100 persons and held outdoors at Fricano Place Muskegon Lake, is sold out, but will be broadcast on MuskegonChannel.com.

 

Elisa Hopper, Director of Development, explained, “Every Woman’s Place invites the community to participate in this exciting evening by viewing the broadcast and bidding in our two online auctions.”

 

She continued, “The live auction of luxury purses, modeled in a runway show that is the highlight of the evening, will be open to bidding by participants inside and outside the venue, as well as bidding in the silent auction. And, every $25 virtual event pledge will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 3 $25 gift cards to Ted’s in Spring Lake,” she added.

 

This will be the first time that EWP has opened Power of the Purse live auction bidding to participants outside the venue, and anticipates high interest from the community. “We’re really excited to expand bidding on the purses in the model runway show this year to everyone in our community,” Hopper said.

 

The live auction and silent auction both will be hosted on the free Givi mobile auctions app, and require registration to participate. Registration is free at bit.ly/purse-auction-20.

 

The Power of the Purse raises funds to support the work of Every Woman’s Place. For over 40 years, Every Woman’s Place has provided support to victims of domestic and sexual violence. EWP provides safe shelter, a 24-Hour Crisis Line, counseling, a Sexual Assault Response Team, legal advocacy and services for women and children who have witnessed violence.

 

Kim Dimmett, Executive Director of EWP, stated, “During these trying times, I often think about the similarities between COVID-19 and the everyday life of a victim of domestic violence. Financial strife, isolation and the uncertainty of health are common worries these days…

 

They are not new to victims, however. Victims often live with financial abuse, the fear of physical injury and abuser-employed isolation tactics every minute of every day.”

 

Power of the Purse occurs each October so that our community can show their support for survivors during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. The impact of domestic violence on individuals, families and communities can be crippling.

 

Said Dimmett,

 

“Every Woman’s Place is here for all survivors. We respond to domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking in Muskegon County by offering crisis response, comprehensive services and support that eliminates barriers so that each survivor can go forward, violence-free.”

 

She added, “As we go forward and return to the slightest bit of normalcy, I encourage all of us to remember those that remain behind. Together, we can overcome the devastation of violence in our community.”

 

Pledging and other event details are available on the EWP website at

everywomansplace.org/power-of-the-purse, and sneak previews of the 2020 Purse Models, the live auction purses, and the silent auction packages can be seen on the

Power of the Purse

Facebook page at facebook.com/changingpurseschangeslives.