St. Vincent de Paul/Comcast Domestic Violence PSAs – A Brief Overview

What is showing and when?
Comcast Spotlight worked with us again at the end of 2006 to produce three new PSAs. The subject of the new PSAs is domestic violence. These began showing throughout the Bay Area before Christmas however, from January 2007 onwards, they are being shown with greater frequency and in rotation with ‘Respect’ – the 2005 PSA that emphasizes the importance of treating homeless people with the respect and dignity due to all our fellow men.

What do we hope the domestic violence spots will achieve?
Raise awareness about domestic violence
Encourage those experiencing domestic violence to seek help
Signpost the way to help
Raise awareness about St. Vincent de Paul’s role in helping women and children escaping domestic violence
Encourage people to support (financially and in other ways) the work of St. Vincent de Paul.

Who wrote the poem and who is reading it?
The poem is written by Paulette Kelly and dedicated to all battered women.  In the past it has been chosen by staff at our Riley Center for women and children escaping domestic violence to be read events and memorials.

The poem is read by children’s case mangers at the Riley Center shelters. No faces are shown in order to protect the confidentiality of the location of the shelters and the safety of the women and children taking refuge.

Who is paying for the PSAs?
The air time has been donated entirely free by Comcast.  Comcast also donated the time of a camera, editing and production person.  The PSAs were filmed in a room at Comcast’s editing offices.  The director, Ron Armstrong, and producer, John Diaz, gave their time for free to support the work of St. Vincent de Paul.

The only cost to St. Vincent de Paul for the making and showing of these PSAs was the price of the flowers used – about $25!

Responding to the PSAs
If the domestic violence spots achieve what it is hoped they will, we may all be getting additional telephone calls from women seeking help.  So, just in case anyone does not already, it may be helpful to have the domestic violence hotline information on your voice mail systems particularly after hours.

More information
For more information about the PSAs, please call Peter Wise (415 977 1270 Ext.3001) or Laura Hare (Ext.3004).