The Pittsburgh-based management consulting firm started the initiative to help women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) and their children transition to being independent.
Aspirant, a Pittsburgh-based global management consulting and technology firm, has established a new initiative with Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh (WC&S). The initiative, titled “Aspire to Your Full Potential,” will provide WC&S with funds to assist women and children gain freedom from abuse through transition-related expenses, including relocation fees, transportation costs, moving expenses, education, legal fees, utilities, furniture, and even security systems for added safety.
“Aspirant is a company built on values, and two of them come to mind when we think about the difficult situations that WC&S’ clients are facing: empowerment and perseverance,” said Aspirant President Mike McClaine. “We want these adults and their children to aspire to a life free of violence, and our hope is that in some small way, this initiative will help do that. We’re also excited about the possibility of our corporate colleagues and friends contributing to and building the initiative.”
The initiative was officially announced on Aspirant’s company-wide monthly call in December, where members of WC&S team were present, including President/CEO Nicole Molinaro, Chief Development Officer Kristin Brown, and RUSafe Coordinator Kathy Marecic.
“In the last three years, our numbers have increased from serving 5,000 people a year (both adults and children) to 8,000, so this type of initiative is literally life-changing,” said Nicole Molinaro, the President/CEO of WC&S. “Often in domestic violence situations, there is financial abuse as well, where the abuser will track every penny and not allow the victim to save any money. Therefore, the ‘Aspire to Your Full Potential’ initiative could help provide financial support to these survivors so they can leave the relationship and feel safer during the transition.”
This initiative is part of Aspirant’s larger Connection of Hope campaign, which was started to help raise awareness of and prevent domestic violence, and continues Aspirant’s long history with WC&S. The relationship started in 2014 when the consulting firm developed the RUSafe app for WC&S, and has continued through releasing V.2 of RUSafe in 2018 as well as holding multiple large-scale events to raise awareness of the app and the center’s services. In addition, Aspirant held a gift drive for WC&S this past holiday season, and team members also prepared breakfast in December at WC&S.
Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh (WC&S) supports survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their children with safety planning, counseling, specialized services, and resource information so that they can heal and build new lives free from abuse. In the last three years, WC&S has grown from a total staff of 49 to 80 in an effort to deepen services and make life-saving programs accessible to more people. Last year, WC&S reached more than 8,000 adults and children—a record number—with the following programs and services: 24-Hour Hotline, Emergency Shelter, Legal Advocacy, Civil Law Project, Education and Outreach, Resident, and Non-Resident Support Groups, Medical Advocacy and a Children’s Program.