"Relationships in the Real World" Workshops Will Take Place
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month In October

Profits From Product Sales To Benefit Domestic Violence Agency Partners

NEW YORK, NY - (September 28, 1995) - In an effort to reach young men and women as they begin to make critical lifetime decisions about relationships, apparel maker Liz Claiborne, Inc. working in partnership with local domestic violence prevention organizations will launch a pilot program of campus workshops designed to teach students how to communicate effectively and avoid abusive situations. Entitled "Relationships In The Real World," the workshops will address a spectrum of behavior found in both healthy and unhealthy relationships, including a discussion of emotional, verbal and physical abuse and acquaintance rape. The workshops will stress the importance of open lines of communication and explore how poor interaction and other factors can be early signs of an abusive relationship.

Universities chosen to participate in the program during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, include Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Washington in Seattle, and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

The centerpiece of the workshops will be innovative, lively interactive presentations led by local experts, during which students will participate in various dating and family scenarios, and discuss possible outcomes of different actions. A question and answer session will be led by a university representative familiar with the issue. Interested students will have the chance to process information and ask additional questions in intimate breakout groups following the session. Students will also be provided with campus and community resources for ongoing advice.

"Family violence is not simply your problem or my problem -- it's our problem. It's an American problem. I congratulate Liz Claiborne for educating college students and preventing violence before it occurs," says Donna Shalala, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

This campus effort is part of Liz Claiborne's five-year commitment to raising awareness and fostering education on family violence through its public service campaign called WOMEN'S WORK.

"This issue is very real and pervasive. It is our hope that these workshops may help stop abusive situations before they start, and teach students how to help themselves and others should such a situation occur," says Jerome A. Chazen, chairman of Liz Claiborne, Inc. "Unfortunately, more than half the children who grow up in homes marred by physical, emotional or verbal abuse carry the scars, including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, aggression and behavioral problems, into their adult lives."

Funding Domestic Violence Agencies

In conjunction with the college workshops, Liz Claiborne, Inc. is contributing funds to local family violence charities through its nationwide Charity Shopping Day. On Thursday, October 19th, the Liz Claiborne and Elisabeth Stores across the country will donate 10 percent of the day's sales to their local domestic violence agency partners. The company will also donate $2,500 to each of its local charity partners in St. Louis, Seattle and Minneapolis, the cities in which the college workshops are being held. In addition, specially created WOMEN'S WORK T-shirts ($16) and mugs ($7) will be available for sale in the Liz Claiborne and Elisabeth Stores during the month of October. Local domestic violence agencies will receive all profits from these sales, as well.