Contestant's Case to Win

The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women (DAHMW), is a "virtual" non profit home based agency. Jan Brown, a baby boomer born in 1956 and DAHMW's founder, learned of the need for this type of service back in the late 1990's when a male friend came to her with a problem he was having at home.
"Jim" (not his real name) confided that his wife of ten years was full of rage and anger. She would scream and cuss at him, belittle him, as well as push, shove, kick and punch him. He said the physical violence didn't hurt him as much as the emotional abuse. She blamed him for all that she felt was wrong in their lives and she refused to take responsibility for anything.
Additionally, Jim said that she controlled all the money, all his paychecks were direct deposited into her bank account. He was thinking of leaving the marriage but feared that his wife would follow through on her threats to make sure he would never see his three children again.
Jim told Jan that this was the first time he had ever told anyone about the abuse. He felt embarrassed and humiliated talking about it.
Jan wanted to help Jim so she searched the internet and called all over trying to find support and help. Not one of the domestic violence victim's programs she called would help a man. Eventually, he couldn't take the violence anymore and he left. Shortly after he left his wife made good on her threats to keep him from ever seeing his children again.
After watching the pain and frustration that her friend suffered Jan decided to start the DAHMW. She put together a board of directors, filed for non profit status and ordered a toll free number to be set up on her home phone.
Today, almost eight years later, the helpline is accessed by over 550 people a month across the country.
Victims and others concerned about loved ones call for support, referrals, information, and services such as emergency shelter, bus tickets, food, clothing and court advocacy.
Jan developed an online training so that anyone in the USA who wanted to volunteer with the DAHMW could be trained on domestic violence and advocating for victims right in the comfort of their own homes. Notices were put up on volunteer matching sites all over the World Wide Web and in local newspapers.
Today the DAHMW has 50 volunteers in various positions working to bring public awareness and services to victims of domestic violence. Some volunteer on the helpline covering shifts 24/7. Almost all the communication within the agency is done by phone, e-mail and chat hence the DAHMW's innovative-ness.
Although the agency specializes in offering supportive services to men in relationships with abusive women we don't stop there. The agency was founded on the premise that both men and women in heterosexual and same sex intimate relationships deserve and need support in order to leave domestically violent homes. We do not discriminate! Every victim and concerned loved one that calls the helpline is treated with the same compassion no matter their gender, orientation, race, culture, religion etc.
Some DAHMW volunteers are so passionate about the work they do with us that they donate 60 hours or more a week of their time to the agency. We are very proud of the work we are doing to bring supportive services and recognition to all victims and survivors of domestic violence.