DomesticShelters.org announced the winner of the 2022 Purple Ribbon Awards naming Circle of Love 2022 Program/Shelter of the Year. 

Circle of Love received an official Purple Ribbon Award medallion trophy and a certificate stating, “this award is presented only to the best of the best who are making a substantial positive impact on the lives of domestic violence victims and survivors.”

The awards were divided across 28 categories, as judged by a national panel of respected professionals from the domestic violence field.  The Purple Ribbon Awards is the first comprehensive awards program honoring the countless heroes of the domestic violence movement around the country.  These heroes include advocates, directors, survivors and members of the community support system.  Winners include entries from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. 

Each Purple Ribbon Awards nominated entry was scored by three judges on a 1-25 scale across four factors: 

1. Challenge & Impact (the scope of the challenge faced and overcome)
2. Creativity & Originality (the inventiveness in their endeavor)
3. Submission Excellence (the caliber of materials accompanying the entry)
4. Overall (the overall performance of the entry relative to other entries)

$30,000 worth of grants will be awarded to the Purple Ribbon Award recipients during a virtual celebration of all winners on September 21, 2022.  To learn more about the Purple Ribbon Awards or to attend the Purple Ribbon Awards Celebration, visit www.purpleribbonawards.org

Circle of Love is an emergency safe shelter and resource center for domestic violence victims and their children.  Circle of Love serves Greene, Morgan, Putnam, Baldwin, and Hancock counties.  As part of the national crisis hotline for domestic violence, Circle of Love also shelters women and children who are fleeing abusive homes around the country.

“While our job can be very rewarding, working in the field of domestic violence can also be sad, frustrating, and quite exhausting,” says Kimberly Bennett, Executive Director of Circle of Love Center.  “Receiving a big award like this validates the exceptional work and dedication our team puts in on a daily basis.”

Circle of Love’s mission is to protect, serve, and empower victims of domestic violence.  For more information about Circle of Love and what you can do to help facilitate these goals, please visit www.colinc.org.