FRANKFORT, Ky. (August 26, 2008) -- Westfield Insurance of Westfield Center, Ohio has awarded an $11,000 grant to the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (KDVA) for its economic empowerment project.

The grant will support financial education classes and one-on-one credit repair counseling services for domestic violence survivors who are working to become self-sufficient. The classes and credit counseling services will be provided by the KDVA’s economic empowerment program, Kentucky Asset Success Initiative (KASI), which serves the state of Kentucky.

Domestic violence survivors and low-income citizens will benefit from the project that seeks to help them become homeowners, attain post-secondary education or start a small business. Participants will open special savings accounts called Individual Development Accounts and their savings will be matched on a 2-to-1 basis. Participants who maximize the program will finish with $6,000 -- $2,000 of their own savings and $4,000 in matching funds.

"Support of this program aligns with our desire to empower people to take control of their lives and work towards positive change," says Jim Clay, president of Westfield Insurance.

So far, 73 participants have completed the program: 39 have bought homes, 30 have gone on to college and four have started their own businesses.

The grant was given as part of Westfield’s community investment focus on human services, community revitalization, and safety and education.

Westfield partners with more than 75 independent insurance agents throughout the state, with employees located in Bowling Green, Lexington and Louisville.

The Kentucky Domestic Violence Association is a coalition of the state’s 15 publicly funded domestic violence programs. KDVA’s Economic Empowerment program called the Kentucky Asset Success Initiative (KASI) helps domestic violence survivors and low-to-moderate income clients obtain financial independence through financial education, free tax preparation and asset-building tools.

Contact:
Mary O’Doherty, KDVA, 502.592.7856, modoherty@kdva.org
Terri Grimm, Westfield Insurance, 330.887.6055, TerriGrimm@westfieldgrp.com