PHOENIX – The Governors Office of Youth, Faith and Family, in partnership with PetSmart Charities, is kicking off Domestic Violence Awareness month by hosting the 4th Annual Lighting Arizona Purple Event. On October 2, 2018, from 6 PM - 7 PM, Governor Doug Ducey will light the State Capitol purple as a symbol of unity and hope to support survivors and prevent domestic violence. The Capitol Dome will remain lit purple every night through the month of October.

Lighting Arizona Purple is an opportunity for all of us to stand together, in unity and hope, supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence, stated Governor Ducey. I invite families, advocates, victims, survivors and community leaders to join me on October 2nd and help light Arizona purple.

Intimate partner violence does not discriminate. Whether physical, sexual, emotional or financial, domestic violence is often hidden within the homes of our neighbors, friends, and family members, leading to cycles of generations of abuse.

Lighting Arizona Purple is about more than awareness, stated Maria Cristina Fuentes, director of the Governors Office of Youth, Faith and Family. Lighting Arizona Purple is about resilience, standing with survivors and addressing the underlying causes of domestic violence and trauma.

This years Lighting Arizona Purple event is made possible through the generous support of PetSmart Charities. Domestic violence doesnt just affect humans. Household pets can also be victims of violence. In some cases, pets are used as a hostage or bargaining tool to persuade victims to stay.

Not only are pets credited for being a common reason why victims delay leaving their abusers, animal abuse is often the first indicator of domestic violence within a household, stated David Haworth, Haworth, D.V.M., Ph.D., president of Phoenix-based PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America.

All Arizonans are encouraged to support human and animal victims and survivors of domestic violence by attending the Arizona Capitol Dome lighting ceremony, hosted in partnership with PetSmart Charities, lighting their homes purple during the month of October and posting pictures on social media using hashtag #LightingAZPurple.

The Home Depot, in partnership with the Governors Office of Youth, Faith and Family, is supporting National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Arizona by selling purple light bulbs at every Home Depot location across the state. A portion of every light bulb sold will support domestic violence prevention. Arizonans purchasing a light bulb, during the month of October, are encouraged to take pictures of their home, business or place of worship lit purple and post the image on social media using #LightingAZPurple and #EndDVinAZ.