Elijah Vaca - Helping to fight Domestic Violence

Hey Friends and Family,

Thank you for visiting my donation page! My name is Elijah Vaca and I am a proud member of the 2023-2024 Jewish Teen Foundation (JTF) North Board. This group of 24 Jewish teens working together for a year to advocate for a specific unprivileged population of focus. Through this experience, the board and I will learn how to work well with other people and raise awareness for populations in the our community and around the world other than ourselves.

After a long consensus process, the JTF North Board has decided to focus on individuals and families affected by domestic violence. Domestic violence has been an uncomfortable topic to talk about for years, so we want to bring attention to the subject. Many people facing domestic violence don’t tell anyone or are too afraid to reach out for help due to their significant other's manipulation about control exerted on them and the shame they feel. This year, the JTF North board has decided to break the silence and advocate for people suffering in their relationships, as everyone deserves to feel valued and loved. Domestic violence is a big part of our community and not many people realize this, as it doesn't discriminate between race, SES, religion, etc. The statistics below show how truly big this problem is.

-Over 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. (National Domestic Violence Hotline 2010)

-An average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. (National Domestic Violence Hotline 2011)

-On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence 

During the Consensus process that I mentioned before, the JTF North Board has decided to craft a mission statement that we feel reflects what we want to achieve:

The Jewish Teen Foundation North Board is committed to supporting individuals and families affected by domestic violence through organizations/initiatives that provide direct support, relocation assistance, and prevention services in order to mitigate domestic violence and help survivors approach recovery and self-sufficiency.

Make a difference, donate today! It is your generosity that we appreciate! The board members and I appreciate any donations that we receive. Any amount will push us to our goal of $50,000 and go to combat the growing problem of domestic violence. The rest of the board and I have done a tremendous amount of work and research to make sure your donations will make the most impact. I can speak for the entire JTF board, that we value your donation. Your support is so meaningful to us and will help those who are affected by domestic violence. The deadline for donations is April 10th, 2024

If you have any questions about domestic violence, the Jewish Teen Foundation, or becoming a donor, feel free to email me at elijahvaca42@gmail.com. 

Thank you for your time, recognition, and donations. Strength is in numbers.