top of page
Search

Pat Griffen: An Unlikely Catalyst for Change



By Chrystal Allen-O’Jon

Against Abuse, Inc. has provided social services in Pinal County, Arizona since 1981. Against Abuse, Inc. is a private non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and the community to understand the nature and effects of family violence and the resources available to meet the needs of those abused. In addition, the agency has taken a proactive role in providing a family focused, culturally sensitive continuum of prevention and intervention services to individuals and families in need of services. https://www.against-abuse.org/.


Let’s dig into how the founder of Against Abuse, Pat Griffen became an unlikely hero to many women. When speaking to Ms. Griffen it strikes you that serving others comes as natural to her as breathing air. When asked how Against Abuse started, she states” It all started as a simple conversation with one group to another as to how one might help women and children caught up divorce and abuse”. Ms. Griffen goes on to explain that “back in the day” 40 years ago legislature was in place in several counties in Arizona that allowed funds from divorce to fund victims of domestic abuse.


By chance, Pat ran into someone who was running an underground organization similar to hers. Having a simple discussion to strategize on how best to get funds distributed to families in need turned into a whole movement. “In the past, people didn’t acknowledge domestic abuse. The viewpoint then was you just discuss those things”. So Pat, although small in stature, went about the community via churches and other organizations to spread a big message of obtaining Safe Houses for victims of domestic abuse and their children. This turned into a 5013c organization, where Pat was hired to work on a three-month basis and is still working. As a young mom Pat thought she’d make extra money doing something she was passionate about, helping abuse victims. Her passion turned into the recruitment of 17-20 safe homes via some fema funding. The idea was to provide a safe place for women and their children while they went through the process of being healed and reestablished.



To date, Against Abuse has the largest network of safe homes in Arizona and carries liability insurance, etc. to create a safe environment without expense to those families in need.


Please support their efforts.



 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All
The Impossibility of Avoiding AI

Navigating the Ubiquity of Artificial Intelligence By Ronald Smith Artificial Intelligence (AI) has reached a stage where avoiding its...

 
 
 

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet

Add a rating

© 2022 by  O'Jon Consulting a Subsidiary of O'Jon Enterprises LLC   -  Website Designed By Chrystal Allen-O'Jon 520-728-5807

​ ​ Company Motto "Nurturing a culture dedicated to excellence and ethical behavior"

Our Amazing Team

Chrystal Allen-O'Jon
Owner/Publisher
Nora Gamboa
Marketing Director 
Alexa N Del Prado
Director of Digital Media & Web Strategy

  • How can I access digital issues of Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine?
    You can access digital issues of Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine by visiting our 'Digital Issues' page. We offer free digital links for local and international readers. For any issues accessing the digital content, please contact us via chrysallenojon@aol.com.
  • How can I subscribe to Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine?
    You can subscribe to Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine by visiting our 'Subscribe' page and filling out the subscription form. We offer both print and digital subscriptions. For any subscription-related inquiries, please contact us via info@maricopalifestylemagazine.com.
  • How can I advertise in Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine?
    To advertise in Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine, please visit our 'Advertise' page for more details on ad campaigns and contact information. You can also reach out to our advertising team directly via info@maricopalifestylemagazine.com.
  • How can I submit a community story to Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine?
    To submit a community story, please visit our 'Contact' page and reach out to us with your story idea. We are always on the lookout for great community stories. You can also email your story ideas directly to info@maricopalifestylemagazine.com.
  • How can I contact Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine?
    You can contact Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine by visiting our 'Contact' page. You will find the contact details of Chrystal Allen-O'Jon, the Owner and Publisher, as well as other contact information. For quick inquiries, you can also email us directly at info@maricopalifestylemagazine.com.
Take a community sip with us.
bottom of page