Burnet, Blanco, Llano & Lampasas: October 2, 2008 -The Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center’s Lea’s House has been chosen to receive one of 150 grants awarded by a leading national anti-domestic violence organization, the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation (MKACF). The $20,000 grant will be used to support shelter operations. On the eve of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, shelters are feeling the impact of a weak economy. According to the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, shelter donations are down, but the need for services is increasing. To help make sure needs are met, the foundation started by the late Mary Kay Ash is donating a total of $3 million in grants to shelters in all 50 states. "We are most appreciative of this much needed grant funding," said Alma Lahmon, Executive Director; "The problem of domestic violence in our area isn't going away and neither is the need for financial support. Programs to help battered women and their children require a lot of resources. We're grateful that the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation is stepping up to the plate in helping us help families the Burnet, Blanco, Llano & Lampasas communities."

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), domestic violence affects 1 in every 4 women in the United States. Nationally:

·The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, 4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services;

·Boys who witness domestic violence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when they become adults;

·84 percent of spousal abuse victims are female.

The statistics in Texas are just as startling. According to the NCADV:

·There were 12,356 adults living in domestic violence shelters in 2006

*8,511 forcible rapes were reported in 2005 *There were 120 homicides in Texas as a result of domestic violence in 2006

"The Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center has helped so many women and their families in the Highland Lakes area. We know they will use these funds to benefit even more domestic violence survivors and their children," said Jennifer Cook, MKACF board member. "Mary Kay Ash wanted her foundation to help enrich women's lives. All the tragic stories and statistics we hear about domestic violence encourage us to do our part. We know the Crisis Center will use these funds to stop domestic violence, and provide help and hope to battered women and children in the Highland Lakes area."

About the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation: The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation was created in 1996 and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. Since the Foundation's inception, it has awarded nearly $18 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence and $10.8 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation, log on to www.mkacf.org or call1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).