press releases

Domestic Violence: No Longer A Private Problem

Liz Claiborne Inc And Marie Claire Magazine Designate October 11
"It's Time To Talk" Day To Bring Awareness To The Important Issue
of Domestic Violence

Make Your Voice Heard - Take Part in the It's Time to Talk Day Text Messaging Poll Sponsored By Liz Claiborne and Verizon Wireless

NEW YORK, NY - (September 26, 2005) - On October 11, everyone from teachers and students, to corporate executives and nonprofit directors, will join together for Liz Claiborne Inc. and Marie Claire magazine's "It's Time to Talk Day," a national campaign that aims to break the silence and raise awareness of domestic violence.

Studies show that nearly one in three women will be abused in their lifetime.1 Liz Claiborne and Marie Claire hope that by filling the air waves, the phone lines, the schools and the heart of American commerce with information on this pervasive problem, they will raise enough awareness that eventually this horrible epidemic finally will be wiped out once and for all.

"Domestic violence is a problem that is more common than breast cancer and more insidious than AIDS, yet, by its nature, makes people uncomfortable. Designating October 11 as It's Time to Talk Day is our way of turning this private problem into a social issue that all Americans can work to eliminate," said Jane Randel, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Liz Claiborne Inc. and head of the Love Is Not Abuse program.

"It's Time to Talk Day" will include the following activities:

  • Talk Radio:
    Talk Radio will devote several hours of airtime throughout the day (6:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) to address the issue, featuring interviews with more than 20 U.S. leaders, experts and celebrities who advocate domestic violence awareness.

  • It's Time to Talk Text Messaging Poll:
    Verizon Wireless and Liz Claiborne Inc. have joined forces to conduct a text messaging poll using wireless phones to help raise awareness of domestic violence. From October 7 through October 21, cell phone users (check with your carrier to see if they are participating) can send a message with the word "Talk" to ENDDV (36338), and they will be asked if they want to participate in a poll inquiring if they know someone who is a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence. Standard text messaging rates apply. The results of the poll will be announced at the end of October.

  • Launch of Curriculum:
    Liz Claiborne Inc. has partnered with Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) to develop the Love is Not Abuse curriculum, which aims to raise awareness about the problem of dating violence, recommend resources for students in need, and ultimately, prevent dating violence from occurring in the future. Teachers in participating pilot schools will begin teaching the curriculum on October 11 in 9th grade Health and English classes across the country. Unlike other curricula on the subject, Love Is Not Abuse will use brief, engaging texts (e.g., poetry, short stories, excerpts from screen plays and theatrical plays) as a springboard to build young people's awareness of how to make healthy choices in relationships and what to do if they are in abusive ones.

  • Human Resources Company Hotline:
    Liz Claiborne Inc., a corporate leader in implementing domestic violence policies in the workplace, will host the Safe Place in the Workplace Company Hotline where human resources executives can call to discuss how they can begin an intimate partner violence workplace program in their companies. From 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET, human resources executives can call toll free 877-448-8783, pin: VS173409, to speak with Dennis Butler, Vice President of Associate Relations at Liz Claiborne Inc., and Kim Wells, Executive Director of the Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence. Both will be available to answer questions for all HR executives who call the Hotline. The Corporate Alliance is the only national organization of its kind founded by business leaders and focused on domestic violence issues in the workplace.

  • NYSE Closing Bell:
    "It's Time to Talk Day" culminates at 4:00 p.m. ET when Paul R. Charron, chairman and CEO of Liz Claiborne Inc. and Lesley Jane Seymour, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire, will ring the closing bell of the NYSE.

  • Support the National Domestic Violence Hotline:
    Liz Claiborne will donate $1.00 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), for every order placed on www.lizclaiborne.com during October.



    • All of the day's events work together to convey the message that each of us has a responsibility to discuss and learn about domestic violence.



    1 The Commonwealth Fund, Health Concerns Across a Woman's Lifespan: 1998 Survey of Women's Health, May 1999