\n \n Imagine \;a high school senior\, \;her prom dress hanging in the closet\, and graduation day soon approaching... \n \n Imagine \;a 17-year-old girl\, graduating from the University of Vermont\, launching a successful career\, a happy wedding\, adorable little children and a beautiful home... \n \n Then imagine \;her whole life taken away one day\, called a \;victim of domestic violence... \n \n ___________________________ \n On \;February 1st\, 2010\, my husband shot and killed my daughter. As I turned to run to her\, he shot me\, with the bullet entering my left temple\, shattering my jaw\, and it now sits forever in my right shoulder. \; \n\n \; \n\n After 30 years of \;emotional abuse\, he knew I was gaining my independence\, and after my daughter\, Olivia\, went to college\, I would have had the nerve to tell him I wanted a divorce. \; \n\n \; \n\n Domestic Violence\, emotional and physical abuse \;is about \;power \;and \;control\, \;and he knew he was losing control of me. \;I will forever live with the tremendous pain of losing my daughter. \;I will also live with the guilt and shame that I didn&rsquo\;t leave an abusive relationship sooner. \n\n Thanks to friends\, family\, and an attorney donating their time and services\, the \;Live for Liv Foundation \;(L4L) \;was formed. We currently have an amazing group of intelligent\, strong\, supportive women\, \;making up the Board of Directors. \;Their support and time they helps keep our organization going. \n\n Although this is such a difficult time as Olivia'\;s mother\, it makes me happy thinking about the last year or two and how we have helped victims of abuse in various ways: \; \n\n \; \n\n ·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;One of the first women \;L4L \;supported was someone that had filed a restraining order against her abuser. \;They agreed he would take the motorcycle and she would be able to keep the car she purchased. \;When he moved out\, he took her car. She was afraid to let the court know he had taken it. \;This led to her walking to work in December'\;s cold weather. \;The \;L4L \;Board agreed to help her. We used funds to help her find and purchase a car. \;She can now drive to work. \n\n \; \n\n ·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Another woman was living in the home she grew up in with her 2-year-old daughter. \;She was abused for years by her family. After seeing a cigarette burn on her daughter\, she finally was able to make the difficult decision to escape the abuse and find a safer place to live. She stayed with friends\, moving from place to place\, unable to bring her daughter with her. \;One of the board members had met her and shared how see needed \;L4L'\;s \;help. \;We rented a U Haul truck\, and several of us spent the day moving her things out of the house\, we also hired a police officer for protection if needed. \;L4L \;paid first month\, last month\, and security deposit for the apartment. \;She is now in a safe living space. \n\n \; \n\n ·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;I received a call from someone that had run from a home of domestic violence. She left with nothing and had been living in a studio with her three children. \;Since they had run to safety\, they had no furniture for their place. \;L4L \;was very happy to purchase furniture for their new home. I will always remember a picture that was sent to us with three smiling faces on their own beds. \n\n \; \n\n ·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Recently a call came from a young woman with an absolute horrific past. She had managed to survive abuse\, working full time\, and going to college. \;She reached out because she wanted to take driver education to get her license and needed help with the cost. \;The board was so amazed by her story and said we would absolutely help her with the class cost as well as other costs associated with getting your license. \;She is now working getting her license. \n\n \; \n\n L4L \;has helped with the cost of attorneys\, mortgage payments\, household supplies among other things. \n\n \; \n\n Thanks to generous donors\, sponsors and Run/Ride participants who have helped raise money which is being used to help victims of domestic violence become survivors. \n\n \; \n\n When I think of how \;Live for Liv \;has helped these people\, I'\;m reminded that we can do anything together! \; \n\n \; \n\n \n | \n 
