Tell me a little bit about how the partnerships with CARE and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) came to be for Together for Her?
We are lucky because EIF is a longstanding partner of CTAOP, so once we started to explore the possibility of building Together for Her, they were super supportive. They were able to not only help facilitate all the donations, but also identify impactful women’s shelters across the United States. After speaking with other peer organizations, we shared the concept with CARE, who does exceptional work around the globe supporting women and girls, and it just made sense for us all to partner. The point of Together for Her was solidarity, so partnering and uplifting this issue together was a natural evolution. EIF is distributing grants, both locally and nationally, across the United States, and CARE is spearheading Together for Her’s international efforts by directing funds to support women and girls against gender-based violence globally.
What has the process been like while putting this project together?
Inspiring—and I’m not using that word lightly here. I’ve never seen such an immediate and fierce commitment from so many people and partners across industries and sectors. Supporting women and children at this time and how critical that is really struck a chord for so many of us. And as horrible as this pandemic is, a silver lining has been the empathy and shared humanity it has brought out.
Any challenges that you and the organizers have faced throughout its creation?
The size of this issue—it truly is a worldwide problem, and a complex one. Unfortunately, many people are not aware that domestic violence is an issue that not only affects so many women and children around the world, but that it also doesn’t discriminate based on location, race, or economic status. This issue wasn’t immediately spoken about on the public stage in relation to COVID-19, but we are seeing through this crisis just how much safety goes hand-in-hand with health.
How has the general response been to your efforts?
The general response has been incredible. It has been really amazing to be a part of and watch unfold. In our initial outreach for support for this effort, we had over 50 prominent women in different sectors all stand up and commit. The long list of individuals who have already joined Together for Her includes women like Sheryl Sandberg, Viola Davis, Reese Witherspoon, Amy Schumer, Octavia Spencer, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Kathleen Kennedy, Sarah Silverman, Megan Rapinoe, Regina King, and so many more. And every day we have more and more women reaching out wanting to be involved. And other companies as well. For example, we are in conversations with a rideshare company on providing credits to shelters to be able to help women safely reach their facilities.